EMPOWERMENT CORNER!

Posted by admin Three years ago, I was walking down a cherry blossom-lined sidewalk at sunset. Spring had crept up on the city in a way that seemed to indicate that something important was about to happen. But on that particular day, I was in a rush; I’d signed up for a beginners’ bartending class. I was going to become a bartender. Unemployment stung worse than a wasp’s sting: It made me feel subpar and subhuman, and getting a job was my only goal. My walk turned into a run. I was determined not to be slowed down by lampposts that creeped onto sidewalks. And then, while waiting anxiously at cross the crosswalk, I saw him. He stood at just over six feet tall, and he had blond hair and aquamarine-blue eyes. He’d apparently just stepped out of a menswear magazine. That was the moment I should’ve known he was too good to be true. We briefly made eye contact, and he mouthed something I couldn’t hear through my ostentatious headphones. I took them off. “Pardon?” I s...

Posted by admin My dear Jil, there’s such a thing as emotional stinginess. You can’t be emotionally stingy in your relationship. You want a boyfriend who fawns over you, telling you he loves you… But you deliberately hold back on reciprocation. You don’t want to be emotionally forthcoming, or even gracious, just so you’ll be in control of the relationship. It smacks of meanness, borders on coldness, manipulatedness and hardness. It’s a narcissus complex. If the guy adopts the same self-induced emotional constipation what do you think will happen? There’s that ding-dong between boys and girls – who’ll blink first, who’ll say “I love you” first, who’s turn it is next… The artificiality of emotional metrics thus unleashed says a lot about the quality of such relationship! A deliberate suppression of emotions evinces insecurity. There’s no sincerity. Yet you expect sincere expressions of love. Can’t you see the selfishness? This is not about playing hard to get. It’s all about con...

Posted By admin on June 19, 2015 @segunakindolani There are plenty of good reasons to stay with someone. There are at least thrice as many reasons to cut things off and move on with your life. If the person you’re dating isn’t someone who’s deserving of you — if he or she doesn’t treat you with love and respect, make you happy, make you look forward to waking up in the morning next to him or her — then you need to hit the road. I don’t believe in there being only one single person out there for each of us. Life is far too complex. There are certainly multiple individuals out there in the world right now deserving of your love. There could very well be dozens of men or women who would make you feel like you’ve met the one. It’s not always his or her fault things aren’t working out. And just because that is so doesn’t mean it’s your fault either — there’s probably no need for you to feel guilty. When some...

By Dan Reiland Posted by Admin Dan: How do you two describe your ministry? Les: You know what a BHAG is, right? A Big Harry Audacious Goal.  Here's ours: To reduce the divorce rate in the church by a third in our lifetime. You know us Dan, we really care about people and marriages. This is our passion! Leslie: We believe it would be one of the greatest social revolutions the church has experienced. Think of the ripple effect it would have on everything from children's and youth ministry to offerings and missions. Les: The tide rises for everything and everybody in the church when marriages are stronger and healthier. Dan: Patti and I have been married for 33 years. I'm curious to know what two marriage experts do for Valentines. Les: Oh, man – you don't want to know. It's one of the least romantic days on our calendar. Leslie: We laugh about it every year. If we're lucky, we typically get a quick meal in between flights while passing through O'Hare A...

Here’s how the pros know if you're headed for troubled times.  Written by Cari Wira Dineen  The sound of his chewing is beyond annoying. And let's not get started on how she never, ever makes the bed. "These little issues are totally normal in any relationship and aren't indicative of whether or not your romance will survive," says Melissa Cohen, a couples therapist in Westfield, New Jersey. But, according to Cohen and many other relationship experts, there are several warning signs they notice during sessions that signal bigger problems—and threaten the viability of their patients' relationships. Ready to assess the strength of your union? Here are nine big red flags to look out for. 1. Your Conflicts Include Criticism and Contempt. Instead of saying, "Please unload the dishwasher," it sounds more like this: "Do you have some sort of mental condition? Or are you just too stupid to remember to do what I asked?" Noti...