Life is a Journey

New Relationships

There is always uncertainty in a new relationship. Most new experiences have an element of risk or anxiety... whether it is your first day at a new job, going away to college, or starting a new relationship. Looking back, the most exciting and worthwhile experiences in my life happened when I took a risk.

Leap of Faith

In my opinion, things that are worthwhile require taking a leap of faith. You cannot possibly know all the possible outcomes. If you did, you would actually become bored. Life is an unpredictable journey, and building new relationships with friends and people you are attracted to is an important part of it.

Learning from it...

Even if the relationship does not last, there is much to be learned from it. You learn about someone else's perspective. This opens up your eyes to things you never would have noticed before... such as taking a moment to smell the roses, or that they see taking a wrong turn as an adventure. Maybe your significant other has different hobbies than you, such as cooking or working out. You can do these things together, and learn why they enjoy doing these activities.

I hope you learn from the relationships in your life. The lasting one's take time and effort to flourish. I have seen the marriage of my parents and that of mentors in my life that have flourished, and they continue to love each other. They have faced trials and joys together, and Christ is the center of their relationship.

Learning from Life

Encouragement for Relationships

There is so much to be learned from every relationship you are in, whether it be with family, friends, or more than friends. The question is, what will you learn? How will this change the way you act in the future?

See it through their eyes...

One thing that is very important is to be on the same page. It is good to be honest with each other,  concerning actions, conversations that bothered you, or just things you want each other to know. This way you can learn about the other person's perspective.

Forgive

I'm also a believer in second chances. People make mistakes, they say things they don't really mean... or find out too late that their words came across in a hurtful way. Give each other a chance to make things right. You can't change the past, but you can change what you do in the future.

Understanding different perspectives and giving people second chances will help friendships grow and blossom. The best things in life take time and effort to flourish.

Do you have a raisin? How about a date?

She caught your eye...

Now what? You can't just go up and talk to her. Or can you? There are numerous cheesy pick-up lines to choose from, such as, "I'm writing a term paper on the finer things in life, and I was wondering if I could interview you", or "God was showing off when he made you". 

I would like to suggest better ideas...

Idea 1: Make eye contact, and smile! It is the simplest way to get her to notice you, and there is little risk. And, you already know how. The worst that could happen is that she does not notice, or does not smile back. That saves you a lot of time. Don't waste time on girls that are taken, or not interested. If and when she does smile back, go up and talk to her. Believe me, she wants you too. Say hello, and introduce yourself. Break the ice by asking about how her day is going.

Idea 2: You can also add a wink to the smile. According to ehow.com, winking is like throwing a baited hook into water. You are a safe distance away that if she doesn't bite (respond), then you get out with no damage. If she does respond positively (smiling, giggling), go talk to her.

Idea 3: After you have made pleasant conversation, ask for her contact info (i.e. facebook or number). Ask if you can see her again at another public place, such as a coffee shop or an activity like bowling or a sporting event. Don't be afraid to call her the next day! Follow up to show her you are still interested.

Good luck! Let me know how things go.
                                        

(Inspiration for this post came from dan.hersam.com (pick-up lines), http://www.ehow.com/how_2252789_get-girls-attention.html, and real life experiences)

Impress the Bestie

Don't blow off her best friends...

I have become an astute observer of budding relationships. Men are becoming interested in my wonderful  friends. I watch what they do to get their attention, how they interact, and what happens to their eyes when they talk or tease each other. What are some things that you as a man need to do right the first time?

Meeting her friends

The two of you are getting to know each other, and decide that it would be fun to get together with friends for a movie, or game night. You may feel some pressure, or nervousness. That is good, because her friends will be grilling you, seeing if you are worthy.

The best friend may seem like she is just talking to you, or giving you a hard time. Actually, she is mentally taking notes of how you act or speak. She'll find out whether you are sarcastic, immature, or annoying. Or you can be prepared to be respectful, sweet, and mature. 

Impressions matter

Be yourself on your best behavior. This is a good way to get on her best friend's good side. First impressions matter. In the long run, her best friend could be the one to influence her to give you a chance, or help her change her mind about you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Encouragement as a Verb

Hello again! I've decided that it would be best if I was consistent, with shorter posts. So, here goes!

Encouragement

Encouragement goes a long way. According to dictionary.com, encouragement as a verb means "to inspire (someone) with the courage or confidence (to do something)". It doesn't take a lot of work to say something kind. Tell her she's doing a good job, let her know you are supporting her dreams and choices. If you aren't supportive, she won't be able to trust you.

 "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."By Leo Buscaglia from brainyquote.com  

Lastly, Smile. I know a kind, reassuring smile brightens my day, and it will brighten hers too.

I am always surprised and impressed when a guy friend takes the time to show me he cares, with a kind word or smile. Keep it up! Your kindness is appreciated.

How to Attract Your Princess

Hello Again!

It's good to be back! Life really started for me this summer, and I have been having one adventure after another. God has taught me to be confident, and to enjoy life.

Changes to Make You Into Prince Charming

I have a friend who was describing his ideal woman. He used words like kind, thoughtful, loves kids, and classy. Want to know how to attract a woman like this? Read on.

Stop Cussing

You grew up in an environment that used curse words, or you learned them all from your buddies in high school. Classy, mature women are not attracted to men whose vocabulary is full of cuss words. Personally, it is the first outward sign that shows me who a guy is... and that he is not what I'm looking for. Also, because I'm a Christian, when a guy uses my Lord's name as a cuss word, he is no longer attractive. Have a friend keep you accountable to cussing less. If you replace those words each time with something positive, I believe you will overcome them.

Classy Ladies Are Modest

You can often tell a lady has class by the way she dresses. Is she modest? If she isn't one to flaunt what she's got, it's a sign that she respects herself. And, most ladies who dress modestly want to reflect their values, whether it be their faith, conservative nature, or their self-respect.

Kindness, Thoughtfulness, Loves Kids

These are traits you can find out once you get up the courage to talk to her. It's okay to start your relationship as friends. That way you aren't going into the relationship blind. And, by spending time with her without the pressure of a relationship, you can see if she has the characteristics you are hoping for.

Thanks for reading! I hope I can get back into writing new posts regularly :)
In case I don't write again till then... Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Women; Stop Leading Him On!

Dear Women...

This post is for the women who read my blog. I want to help the guys out by giving you some advice. I, for one, never want to hurt a guy who was brave enough to ask me out on a date. Men have to be brave because they fear rejection. What’s worse than being rejected is being led on.

Don't Lead Him On!

Please don’t lead him on! Leading him on is when you agree to a second date, even though you aren’t interested in a deeper relationship. It is texting him all the time when you don’t even care what he’s up to... or you are already dating someone else. It’s telling him you care about him, and leaving him a week later for someone else. This cuts him much deeper than he lets on. They are trained their whole lives to be tough, to be men. But they still have feelings and emotions that should be treated with respect.

The First Date

Let’s say you are attracted to this guy you’ve known for a few weeks/months (maybe years ;). You finally get the courage to go talk to him. (To you guys out there: a lot of us are afraid to talk to you because of the risk of rejection… rejecting us and our attention.) Maybe this time you actually hit it off. He asks for your number, and you give it. (Don’t just give it to him, if he asks for it you can tell he wants it.) Ideally he calls, and you set up a “first date”.

During the date, things go fine. You find out some things, like he’s into hunting, or he has a weird sense of humor. After the date, be serious with yourself. Are you excited at the thought of seeing him again? Did you enjoy the time you spent with him? If not, don’t agree to a second date. AND… don’t use the “just friends” line. Guys HATE that! They know that you will never pursue a friendship with them. Just kindly say you are not interested in a deeper relationship.

I know, it’s a lot to remember. And most of the time, we live and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes. Just try your best not to make the same ones next time, and try to be compassionate J.

 Quotes for the Day:

“ Sometimes the last thing you want to be is just friends, being limited to looking into their eyes seeing the miracle and dream you can’t have.”

“The worst part of life is waiting. The best part of life is having someone worth waiting for.”

From searchquotes.com