• Lonely nights with meals for one in front of the T.V.
• Nights out with other (tedious, verging on tarty) singles who you would otherwise never associate with, however, the need for a Wing Woman is such that you find yourself propped up at the bar with them on a weekly basis.
• Hearing the patronizing yet hopeful words from your mother and smug married friends, which go something like this “You’ll meet someone lovely soon dear”, “There’s a man waiting just round the corner” or “You really deserve someone special, he just hasn’t come along yet”. (OK fabulous… Where is he???)

Things become more serious, at the realization that you have developed a compulsion to dropping your towel at precisely 10 am on a Saturday morning, as the Window Cleaner (Who is bold and married with three children) is doing his rounds. When suddenly out the blue, you meet someone, he wants to spend time with you. He is attractive, works, owns a home, so you grab onto him and hold on tight. However, once the dust has settled a few things start niggling at the back of your mind telling you something is not quite right.

• He agrees with everything you say: Some would say great! Assuming that you have loads in common, a perfect match! Now, don’t get me wrong, he may well agree with your views and visions, but, is he really listening? “Some” men will agree with anything you say for an easy life. However, this pretence has a shelf life and his agreeing and nodding will start to grate on you when you realize that his nods hold no value, for he is simply nodding. Take a friend of mine who had started dating an agreeable man and had shared her dreams of a quiet couple retreat in Europe with long walks, exquisite meals and talking until sunrise. The reality of the situation was they ended up in a squalid hostel next door to a brothel in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. She tried to save the situation by suggesting walks through the Vondelpark or tasting local delicacies. Only to find that narcotics and strip clubs were more what he had in mind.
• He takes the bigger half: He is cooking tonight and when the mouth watering food is served you can’t help but notice that not only is his Steak decidedly larger but he also has a greater heap of sautéed potatoes (note: including the majority of delicious crispy ones!) the balance has been restored however by the mountain of unseasoned obligatory veg piled high on your plate. He smiles with pride as he lays down his offering and gets stuck in. Once dinner has been devoured he asks if you have room for dessert. Feeling rather bloated from vegetable overload but still hopeful you say, yes please. At which point he delivers two very different desserts, one scoop of ice-cream for you and a veritable ice-cream sundae for himself, complete with melted chocolate and lashings of cream. Your mind starts buzzing full of questions of why? My advice to you is do not even bother, make your excuses, leave and get down to that bar where your tarty singleton “friends” will be waiting.
• Terms of endearment?: Some people may feel that a term of endearment is just that: Endearing. However, if his choice includes referring to you as “the missus”, “her indoors” or “that piece of ass”, it is definitely time for you to get out and start appreciating your own company. Loving and respecting yourself is a sure fire way of ensuring that your next relationship will not involve this kind of vile creature again… Phew!

Finding yourself single all over again, you can breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to:

• Putting your feet up in front of the TV with a whole delicious meal all to yourself.
• Girly chats with tarty singletons, discussing dreams of couple retreats with your perfect man.
• Feel happy in the knowledge that when Mom or smug married friends say “You’ll meet someone lovely soon dear” that soon, means not now. So you can enjoy building on yourself being you until you are ready to share yourself with someone deserving of you. When? Who cares!

Author’s Bio

Miss A is a Fashion Consultant for Kranich’s Jewellers. Check out there gorgeous collections, featuring Mothers Rings and much more!

1. Skipping a bra.  No matter what type of top you are wearing, there is always a bra to go with it, so don’t think omitting this basic undergarment is acceptable (or wise).  The lack of a bra will almost certainly send the wrong message to a prospective beau and it may not be very flattering to your figure or your outfit.  So make sure to keep your girls locked and loaded in the right bra and you will do a lot more to further your cause on a first date.

2. Dressing too sexy.  Showing a little skin is never a bad idea since you are trying to attract a potential mate.  But you can easily go overboard by showing too much.  A form-fitting outfit should have plenty of coverage, while a dress should either show a little cleavage or some leg (but not both).  Combining all three of these no-nos in one outfit is sure to come across as a little desperate, so strive to reveal just a hint of what’s to come rather than putting all your goods on display.

3. Dressing too young.  If you’re over 18, then you have no excuse for dressing like a school girl.  It’s time to stop shopping in the junior’s section and wear something that’s age-appropriate.  Being a fantasy is all well and good until you want an actual relationship.  If you’re looking for a little fun, no problem, but if you want him to wake up happily to the reality of everyday life with you, then you should be upfront about who you are rather than dressing like a girl who is 10-20 years younger.

4. Wearing work clothes.  If you want to let your date know just how much you don’t care about what he thinks, then by all means, go ahead and wear your work clothes.  All you’re saying is that you are so unconcerned about impressing him that you couldn’t bother to take the time to change.  Clearly, this isn’t the best way to start a new relationship.

5. Dressing for comfort.  While wearing your sweats or nappy old tees and jeans around the house is perfectly acceptable, they’re not really fancy enough for a date.  Even if all you do is put on a new pair of jeans and a nice top, it’s going to make a better impression than showing up looking like you just rolled out of bed and threw on yesterday’s clothes.

Sarah Danielson writes for www.tshirtprinting.net where you can design your own custom clothing at affordable prices.

The crux of the matter is that until you love and accept yourself, you will find it very difficult to allow others to love and accept you as well. This can create a distance you don’t understand in your relationships, making it hard to build the intimacy needed to grow a relationship that goes beyond casual dating.

Naturally, the process of learning to love and accept yourself can take years, and may take therapy. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t assess your mental state and get started on a new path by asking yourself a few key questions about your life.

Take a weekend morning to do a bit of self examination. This isn’t the “mirror, mirror” kind of self examination, either. Loving yourself and your life goes well beyond liking the image you see in the mirror.

Ask yourself how you feel about your work, your hobbies, your living arrangements, and your friends. Are you proud of what you do for a living? This can help you communicate confidence about your career to mates. Do you find your hobbies fulfilling and stimulating, or is it time to try something new? Are you frustrated with your neighbours? A move could be the fresh start you need to start loving your home life again. Finally, are your friends deep connections or convenient acquaintances? Looking for real relationships will help you feel valued and let you communicate validation to potential mates.

When you are done, you will have a better grasp on the state of affairs in your life. Identify what you can change and get going! When you are happy and loving your own life, it will be a magnet that pulls in others to you – including the great mate you truly seek.

To preserve your personal well-being, it is important to set up social boundaries. You should set aside time from your activities for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation on a regular basis. This will allow you to give a full measure to the activities you commit to do without guilt that you’re shorting yourself.

Rest is important for both keeping fatigue at bay and preserving your health. During sleep, your body engages in processes that enhance your immune system. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night should therefore be a regular activity and not a once in a blue moon event.

Relaxation is also critical for your self-preservation. Set aside time to unwind, get a massage, or even just veg out in front of the television. You’ll feel less stressed and better able to give your best to your calendar commitments if one of your commitments is dedicated to yourself.

Rejuvenation is equally critical. Rejuvenation differs from relaxation in that it helps you truly recharge. Seek out stimulating books, truly unplugged vacations, or even quiet weekend escapes. As just-for-you mental stimulation and recharging time, rejuvenation can’t be beat for preventing burnout.

As an overbooked singleton, you can run yourself into the ground. Avoid burning out or breaking down by ensuring that your calendar contains plenty of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. You’ll be happier, healthy, and feel more in control of your life.