Elizabeth Stone

Too often we think that men are a limited time offer, where if we resist what they want in the moment, they will slip away forever. Nonsense.

Having standards isn’t simply expecting that things will go a certain way, it’s focused attention on what you really WANT, then making the effort to change or get rid of anything that doesn’t meet your standards.

While a fling with a bad boy can be fun, bad boys are the junk food of the dating world. Good for a quick bite in a pinch, but bad for your long term health.

Sometimes the most intelligent of us fall victim to the idea that we can “try” ourselves into better relationships with people who frankly, will never give us the kind of love that we really want.

For all our decent times together, there was one glaring problem. He didn’t really “get” my sense of humor.

I understand the temptation to get really excited when you finally meet someone you like.

Just make sure that you aren’t doing things that send people running for the hills without realizing it.

If you’re hoping to get back together with your ex, then this is for you.

Does it feel like your relationship is a roller coaster that you just can’t seem to step off of? Do you go from happy to sad at the drop of a hat? Have you stayed up late picking your friends brains about your man’s behavior?

In bizarre dating and relationship behavior-land, there’s the commitment-phobe, and I know this mess of a behavior pattern well since I was once one myself.

It usually goes like this: You meet someone online who seems to have real potential. After a few back-and-forth messages on the online dating service, you give them your phone number.

Narcissism exists on a spectrum. These self-centered folks can simply be more focused on themselves, or it can cross over into an actual personality disorder. Either way, narcissists are legendarily difficult to have relationships with.

“You’re too clingy,” he said, after a breakup speech that left a knot in my gut.