Men In Sandals

Do you think men should wear sandals? With the revival of the infamous flip-flop, sandals are turning up in women's and men's summer wardrobes everywhere. Sure, they're light, comfortable and extremely low maintenance, not to mention easy on the wallet (many places offer two-fer deals on flip-flops, translating to closets full of multi-colored sandals). However, is it fashionably sound to give men more reasons to show their toes? Or are sandals for ladies only?

Join the debate ----

Should men wear sandals?
Are certain styles of men's sandals more "appropriate" for guys to don, such as flip-flops?

Long Distance Romance

Long distance dating can be draining both emotionally and financially. Time spent talking to a partner who is hundreds of miles away requires tons of patience. The fact that you are in a loving relationship but your partner is not there when you need them most can be depressing. Sometimes they seem so near yet so far.

On the flipside though, sometimes it is healthy for the relationship. A relationship that is facing or experiencing a rough stretch can find its cure in distance. Long distance relationships make people to really appreciate the fact that they cannot do without each other. Partners can really focus and see how much value their spouses mean to their lives. The partners get ample time to meditate and evaluate themselves on a personal level and what they want out of the relationship. Distance actually can bring a conflicting couple closer. It also can prove disastrous.

For most people the saying is true, seeing is believing and once out of sight you are also not in the mind. The soft spot that you had for that person adopts some sort of indifference. A coldness can set in. A couple that is always together has a lot of fire going between them unlike partners with a whole ocean standing between them. Unless such a couple is totally committed, the rigors of long distance relationship can eat away at their once sound foundation.

Have you ever been involved in a long distance relationship? How did things turn out?

The C word...Commitment

Every man and woman's commitment expectations are different, and that's perfectly fine. A committed relationship is not something that just happens because you've been with the same person for a certain period of time, so things "naturally" progress into a committed relationship. We all know that's not what happens.

What happens alot is that one partner finds him or herself feeling committed but doesn't sense the same level of commitment from the other person.

Getting someone who doesn't seem ready to commit or resists commitment to commit is probably one of the most difficult things to do. Just as you can't insist that someone love you or love you back, you can't insist that someone commits to you.

What do you do if you are ready for a commitment and the other person doesn't seem quite there yet?

Do you just wait for him or her to commit to you -- and to the relationship?

It's important to remember that while resistance to commitment can sometimes seem like your world has come to a standstill, resistance to commitment can also be healthy. It can act like brakes slowing it down and allowing you to see things more clearly (is this person right for you) and also manage the process at the pace that is comfortable to you emotionally and financially.

With that said, it's not a very good idea not to wait too long before bringing up commitment.

Things might just get too comfortable to change...

Discussing Money Matters...

Men and women are always curious about how to engage each other in conversations about money. What questions are OK to ask? When do you start asking direct questions about money? Everybody wants to be sure they are financially compatible before they commit to a long-term partnership, but very few are comfortable talking about the issues. Being able to accurately assess financial compatibility is an essential aspect of the dating process and can also be a helpful skill in existing relationships as well. Money issues come up sooner or later so you might as well be up front from the start. Your money personalities do not have to be the same as the people you are dating or even the same as your ideal partner’s.

The critical question is how do the differences affect you? Can you live with the consequences that may result from the differences? Some differences can be easily accommodated. Some differences can cause uneasiness in your relationship resulting in resentments that outlive the love. Is it wise to discuss money matters while dating? If so, when is a good time?

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Serenity Women’s Circle President weighs in on the Mother/Son Relationship Factor

How many of us have heard the term momma’s boy? This usually has a negative connotation to it. The debate over this continues to rage on. It is natural for a mother and son to have a close relationship. But what happens if the opposite happens? So many times women are told that it is a bad idea to settle with a man who has a rocky relationship with his mother. It really can be cause for concern if he has no respect for his mother at all. Would you continue the relationship with your man if he seemed to have a lack of respect for his mother? What if he seemed like a good man overall?

Shana M. Jackson is the Founder and President of Serenity Women’s Circle. She is the guest blogger this week. Serenity Women's Circle is a nonprofit organization founded by women for women. They provide special programs in order to empower, educate, and serve the entire population of Mississippi. Serenity Women's Circle especially dedicates their organization to reach out to women and children due to the high percentage of women and children issues in the state of Mississippi. Serenity members are involved to help become positive role models for women and children. For more information or to get involved visit their website today: http://www.serenitywomenscircle.org/

Dating a Successful Woman

Almost all men hate to admit that a successful woman intimidates them. A lot of men also find it extremely hard to even approach successful or wealthy women due to the fear of rejection. Not only is it about the wealth, but also the level of education. We live in an age of technology and competition, where more and more women are achieving more success than males. Not only can this hurt a man’s ego but it can also cause social insults.

Many men in this situation have found it difficult to mingle with colleagues and friends of their girlfriends, dates, or spouse. If he does not have the same status the he may fear being treated differently among her higher class social groups. This may cause a multitude of problems. Many times, if success levels are not equal, the relationship suffers in the long run, no matter the extent of the initial connection.

If you are a successful woman have you ever dated a man on a lower financial level than you? What do you think is the biggest reason that men are intimidated by a successful woman? Do financial or educational levels have to be equal for a relationship to last?

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