• Relationship Advice

    Not Dead Yet

    This is the beginning of my last year in my 50s. One look in the mirror tells me I’m not 18 anymore, but there are better ways to measure our lives. I’m gonna make this opportunity count. I’m not dead yet. Every decade has had its share of trials, but not without a side of JOY. This one is no exception. This is the decade I took pride down to the mat. I’ve always described myself as a perfectionist. I told myself and others that I didn’t want to do something unless I could “do it with excellence.” You know what they say about humble brag…actually is that a thing…

  • Relationship Advice

    How To Create Emotional Safety in Your Relationship

    My husband is a championship-level professional drag racer and licensed in three classes. Here’s a picture of his current ride, a Nostalgia Front Engine “slingshot” Dragster.   These race cars push three and a half g’s when they leave the starting line, and push him hard into the seat! They’re so fast that he needs a parachute to stop them. When the parachute blossoms, it causes three and a half g’s and throws his body forward. This force is one reason why very tight seatbelts are necessary. The Science of Parachutes Just like you feel resistance when walking through a pool filled with water, a similar effect can be felt…

  • Relationship Preparation

    Work on Yourself Before Getting Into a Relationship

    I love romance and everything that goes with it. Hallmark movies. Romance novels. Rom-Coms. Oh yes, I love Rom-Coms. But. And this is a BIG but. These purveyors of romance all stop at the best part – the essential part. The actual relationship! I worry sometimes that too much emphasis is placed on the wedding day, but not the marriage itself. Seriously, one spans one day; the other is the rest of your life. Wouldn’t it make sense to prepare for your future relationship now? No relationship will be perfect because it’s made up of imperfect humans. But, everyone is worthy of love regardless of their self-esteem or baggage. We…

  • Date Night

    Date Night For Music Lovers

      Music and love have been intertwined for thousands of years, each mutually developing the other. That’s an amazing amount of amazingness! Speaking of amazing, how about a date night for music lovers? The relationship between music and love is not a new phenomenon. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that music had healing properties to cure illnesses. Those Europeans. They’re smart! Today, science backs this up. When you hear a song you like, your brain rewards you with dopamine, “the happy hormone.” Songs that release dopamine more intensely feel sexier and more romantic. Makes sense to me! Have you ever listened to that sad song you love to hate…