The Answer Key

The best relationships are formed from a truly pure and unexpected place- no premeditation. What begins as an innocent friendship can suddenly become the love you've been waiting for. A stranger on the street can become the love you never saw coming. A blind date can turn into the love of your life. Love can develop and make its way into our lives when we least expect it, and be a beautiful thing destined for longevity. Many relationships do not have longevitity because of the initial intent behind its establishment. Many people suffer from an alarming biological clock, pressure from family members, a self-imposed schedule, or simple loneliness. These obstacles can lead to poor relationship decisions. The girl that "gets around" can change, the guy that smokes more pot than Bevis and Butthead can quit, and that on-again off-again relationship can really work out if you just give it one more try. These relationships are forced and destined for disaster. The f...

Let's be honest, a lot of people want to lose weight but the next statement goes something like: I'm so busy, work is too hectic right now, my kids are my life, etc. = I don't have time. Know this, there will always be things you could or need to do instead of losing weight, but you have to become as big a priority to you as everything and everyone else is in your life. At least, that's what I told myself. I found myself at the end of the day wondering if I'd done anything for me besides shower, and more often than not, the answer was no. I decided to change that. I had to choose to lose. Every day was going to have something to do with my commitment to shedding the pounds. The first thing I had to do was get an exercise routine. Everybody knows, if you don't move you can't lose. Having an exercise routine is so important, but this can be hard especially if you have children, a hectic work schedule, volunteer or have any other commitments. Make a routine...

All of our experiences are meant to serve a positive purpose in our lives. Yes, the good, bad, and the ugly of life has meaning and brings the gift of a positive lesson in tow. They are all meant to teach us something about ourselves, our relationships, or circumstance. It is our job to figure out what that lesson is. While the moment may be a negative one, you must always seek out the lesson it was meant to teach you, find the positive impact it will have on your life, and what your trial or disappointment is revealing to you about yourself. Disappointments are just minor set-backs. Do not give them more credit than they deserve and certainly do not let them deter you from what you want to do or where you want to be. Avoid giving your minor set-backs too much clout. The less power they have- the better. Self pity is not a good look on anybody. We gain nothing by wallowing in our disappointments. Nothing stands in our way more than our own fears. We truly can be our own wors...

The Answer Key: Let's Talk About Sex

Sex for most is meant to be the active expression of love or at least an intense like. For some it is the recognition and thus conquering of a mutual attraction, and for others it is merely a means to blow off some steam. Like it or not, sex plays a major role in any relationship. Sometimes it literally is the defining factor. Friendships are definitely reevaluated when friends turn into lovers. Previously established relationships make a bump up or take a wrong turn and are often end abruptly when sex is introduced, lacking, being withheld, or being done with someone other than your partner. Both or all (I'm not judging) parties involved need to know exactly what sex stands for in the relationship and hold up their end of the bargain. Openly discuss, define, and agree on the purpose sex will serve. Defining the purpose can be a little tricky depending on the circumstances. If you are casually sexing, that's ok as long as everyone agrees to keep...

The Answer Key: Starve Your Stress

From time to time a well-known irritant will come knocking at your door- stress. It can literally ruin a great day, end a fabulous moment, and turn your smile upside down. Stress can have physical effects too, such as headaches, rapid heart rate, and profuse sweating. Unfortunately, we can let stress run ramped and literally lose sleep because of it. If we could prevent stressful situations from ever happening, I am sure most of us would pay top dollar for that cure, but while stress still rears its ugly head in our lives, the best thing we can do is recognize what causes it, and find the best way to resolving it as quickly as possible. Some familiar causes usually come from situations and circumstances beyond our control.  Stress can be brought on by ourselves through a lack of preparation, for example, but other times stress is our reaction to the actions of someone else. How other people act is is totally beyond our control, but we can control how we r...