There are always images of beauty beyond our reach. Twiggy, Farrah, and Christie...these were the icons of beauty as I was growing up. I was pretty lucky. As a blond, I was part way there. But at age 13, when I compared my body to Twiggy, I was in for problems. I was short and overweight, and so I began a ‘flirtation’ with dieting. »more»

To be fair, all those Internet dating sites do what they do well. But then again, so do nuclear warheads, and I don’t think I’d have much luck around them either.

I realize what heresy it is to say something like that in this particular time at this particular place. Dating websites are everywhere. Match.com. eHarmony. True. Chemistry. Lavalife. JDate. Matchmaker. Seriously, there are more sites devoted to dating than the number of women I’ve dated in my entire life. And each one of them promises that you’ll find your soulmate, if you’ll just sign up for a nominal monthly fee. Who says you can’t put a price on love?

Far be it from me to be cynical (okay, maybe it’s not that far) about these places. I know two people who met and married their spouse via an online matchmaker. Still, I while it may work for some people, Internet dating is also a torture Satan thought up after a few shots of Jack Daniels. »more»

I’m amazed at the number of accomplished, assertive, confident midlife women who confide in me a problem with the their dating relationship. The common sense solution is to talk to their guy about it.

However, many of these women seem squeamish at this prospect. When I ask why, they respond, “I’m afraid of losing him.” »more»

When in Singapore in January, I learned about a Chinese legend that is supposed to help you attract love. It’s pretty simple.

In Chinatown, a friend pointed out two Mandarin duck figurines. She said if you put these little statues in your bedroom so they faced each other bill-to-bill, they would attract love to you.

Why? »more»

Maybe you’re like me and have attended a lot of seminars. Perhaps some of these have been personal-growth workshops. After taking a bunch of them, you realize you can design a lot of the activite yourself. If you are a good student, you see that you don’t really need someone else to design the processes and led you through them. You can do this for yourself. »more»

Today would have been my twenty-second wedding anniversary. I think it is important to reminisce about long-term relationships gone awry as one would at a memorial of a difficult person. Not dwell on the downs, but the ups. Paint a picture of what was added to your life as a result, not what was stripped. »more»

A friend asked me how I managed to stay so happy. It’s true that generally I’m a perpetually perky person, but I do have my bouts with unhappiness when faced with setbacks and disappointments. lemonadeI’ve worked hard to reduce the time I spend in a dreary mood when something unpleasant happens. Or if something I’d looked forward to doesn’t materialize. »more»

When dating someone with whom you’ve become enamored, it is easy to project your life into the future. You imagine being intertwined every blissful day, moving in together, perhaps getting married. In this fantasy is embedded perpetual elation, constant joy, unbridled happiness. »more»

If you received a gift in a Tiffany’s box but the corner was mushed, would you be unhappy? If you were given a 2-pound box of your favorite Godiva with the top indented, would you be disappointed?

No, of course not. Because you know it’s what’s inside that really matters. »more»

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