Advice for a First Anniversary Date

I love it when people ask me for advice about dating and relationships. I love sharing what I learned when I was single, and what I've learned since I got remarried. It makes me feel smart when someone asks for my opinion, and I am happy to help folks find true love--and to help their relationships grow stronger.

The other day a friend of mine (who I will call Hector because that's an awesome name and I've never actually known anyone named Hector) asked me for advice about an upcoming date. This is no ordinary date--it's the anniversary of his first date with Aphrodite, the woman he now loves and adores.

So far so good, right?

First Anniversary Date

Hector said he was planning to take Aphrodite to the same restaurant they went to on their first date. That's a sweet idea, and it's very sentimental in all the right ways. But if that's all he does on his First Anniversary, then Aphrodite is going to be disappointed.

Why? Because she's been there and done that. If Hector wants his woman to be happy, he needs to step it up. He can't do the same exact thing he did last year and expect Aphrodite to be happy with it. That's just not the way women think. If he does the same thing, she will wonder why he isn't trying harder.

(Ladies, if I am wrong about this, please leave a Comment and tell me so. But I'm pretty confident about this.)

Anniversaries Should Be Special

I told Hector the same old restaurant would be a great place to START his first anniversary date--for drinks. Then he should take her to a much fancier place for a romantic dinner. Make a big show about escorting her to the second restaurant--and do not let her know where they are going next. A women loves it when a man takes charge. All she has to do is enjoy the ride.

"But if you insist on going to the same old place for dinner, you need to up the ante by giving her a romantic gift," I told Hector. "You can't go wrong with jewelry."

Hector looked at me with wide eyes. "It sounds like I need to step up my game," he said.

"Bingo," I replied.

Other Dating and Relationships Topics

Let me know if there's a dating and relationships topic that you would like to see me address in a future blog post. I would love to know what issues you're dealing with and I'd love to give you an opinion. Thanks!

I would also like to thank the good folks at The Awesome Gang for the great review they posted about Confessions of a Middle-Aged Babe Magnet by (yours truly) Chad Stone. You can read the review by clicking here: http://awesomegang.com/confessions-of-a-middle-aged-babe-magnet/

Also check out my website at www.middleagedbabemagnet.com. Until next time, this is Chad Stone, the Middle-Aged Babe Magnet, signing out.

Advice for Everyone

Sometimes we all need to be reminded about stuff we already know. This goes for folks who are single, happily in relationships, dating over 50, young, old enough to be collecting Social Security—all of us.

This list of helpful life advice started out as an email pass-along that a friend sent to me. I have edited it, added to it, and deleted some items to make it a set of guidelines that will help you stay optimistic—no matter what experiences each day brings you.

1. Life doesn’t always seem fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month. And cut up the ones you aren’t using.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Just stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. Make a conscious effort to attract positive, loving people into your life. Then don’t be surprised when the negative, crabby people drop out of your life.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Life is short. Try to enjoy every moment of it.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

14 Stop often to take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

15. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

16. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

17. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

18. Go after what you love in life, and don't take “no” for an answer.

19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.

21. Believe in miracles. You won’t experience them if you don’t believe in them.

22. Remember that the most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

25. Always choose life.

26. Forgive.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Time heals almost everything. Let time do its job.

29. Life is change. Go with it.

30. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

31. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

32. Plant a garden.

33. If you love someone, tell them “I love you” as often as you can.

34. Your children get only one childhood. Help them enjoy it.

35. Be nice to people, even when they don’t deserve it. But always stand up for yourself.

36. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

37. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

38. Be thankful.

39. You will be happier today if you are optimistic about tomorrow.

40. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.


Chad Stone, author of Confessions of a Middle-Aged Babe Magnet