Honeymoon Locations Ideas within Africa

The great migration, Tanzania

Experience the power of the migration up close in the vast savannas of northern or southern Serengeti. Take in extraordinary vistas of the Great Rift Valley, and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater to spot lions, cheetahs, elephants, and much more. 

Table Mountain, South Africa

Table Mountain (Afrikaans: Tafelberg) is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the Flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia.[2] It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top. The mountain forms part of the Table Mountain National Park.

Sossusvlei Dunes, Namibia

The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namiba Desert are often referred to as the highest dunes in the world. Various arguments are laid out to support this claim, but all miss the point, which is that Sossusvlei is surely one of the most spectacular sights in Namibia. Located in the Namib Naukluft park, the largest conservation area in Africa, and fourth largest in the world - the sand dunes at Sossusvlei are just one excellent reason to visit Namibia.

The best time to view Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and sunset; the colours are strong and constantly changing, allowing for wonderful photographic opportunities. The midday heat is intense and best spent in the shade.

Lake Malawi, Malawi

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania and Lago Niassa in Mozambique, is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift system, located between Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. It is the ninth largest lake in the world and the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa. It is home to more species of fish than any other lake,[4] including about 1000 species of cichlids.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira, is a dormant volcanic mountain in Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet above sea level.

Virunga National Park, Eastern Congo

formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7,800-square-kilometre (3,000 sq mi) National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.


The park was established in 1925 as Africa's first national park and is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site since 1979. In recent years poaching and the Congo Civil War have seriously damaged its wildlife population. The park is managed by the Congolese National Park Authorities, the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and its partner the Virunga Foundation, formerly known as the Africa Conservation Fund (UK).

Rhinos at Solio Reserve, Kenya

Located in the valley between the dramatic slopes of Mount Kenya and the rolling peaks of the Aberdare Mountains, Solio Reserve is home to around 250 black and white rhino and considered the best place to see these increasingly rare species.

Nxia Pan National Park, Botswana

Nxai Pan National Park lies just north of the Maun-Nata main road and adjoins the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on its northern border. The pan itself is a fossil lakebed about 40 square kms in size.

Fish River Canyon, Namibia

Some 500 meters deep and more than 160 kilometers long, this great rift is second only to the United States' Grand Canyon in size, and during the dry season is characterized by beautiful turquoise pools of seasonally-flowing water stretching into the distance.

Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of six islands in Mozambique, near the mainland city of Vilankulo. It comprises the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina and Shell.

Lower Zambezi, Zambia

Canoeing safaris in the Lower Zambezi offer sightings of hippos, elephants and other animals drinking from the rivers and tributaries around camp.

Flamingos, Kenya

Lake Nakuru National Park is home to one million resident flamingos, providing one of Kenya’s most unforgettable sights.

This lake has become famous for the greatest bird spectacle in the world, with swathes of vibrant pink filling the alkaline lake and the huge sky.

The Southern Cross, Zambia

This iconic formation in the night sky is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere, and few spots offer better vantage points than on an open-air safari in Luangwa, Zambia.

The constellation has appeared in various cultures in various ways, not least with a reference in the Australian national anthem.

Wonders of the Nile, Egypt

A cruise down the Egyptian Nile, ideally on a romantic felucca rather than a crowded tourist boat, reveals relics of one of the world’s most ancient civilisations.  

The highpoint is the Valley of the Kings, with its monumental statues, and the magnificent Kom Ombo Temple, north of Aswan on the east bank.

Riding safari, Kenya

Horseback riding safaris in Kenya are without a doubt the most exciting and adventuresome of all our rides. Strong riders, confident at all paces on broken terrain while riding athletic horses will be in their element here.

Mount Mulanje, Malawi

At around 3,000 meters, the Mulanje Massif is the highest mountain in central Africa. It's split in two by the Fort Lister Gap, a broad pass eroded by the Phalombe and Sombani rivers.

The mountain is distinguished by giant basins of rock and narrow gullies cut by fast-flowing streams. A strenuous trek leads to magnificent viewpoints.

En route, expect to encounter monkeys, hares, voles and a carpet of enchanting wildflowers after the rain. Large numbers of butterflies are another feature.

10 First Date Tips Just For Men

She said yes. Now what? As you prep for Friday night’s date, here are some tips and reminders to help make that first date a success.

10 first date tips just for men:

1. Plan it. Have an answer for when and where the date will be. Try to pick a location that’s comfortable and conducive to conversation. While movie dates are popular, they’re not great for first dates as you’ll both be staring at a screen all night. If the idea of staring at her from across a table all night intimidates you, choose an interactive date. Even if you have nothing in common, you can at least laugh about your poor mini-golf skills together.

2. Pay. Even if she offers, insist on paying for the date — especially if you initiated the date in the first place. As a couple, you’ll figure out how to split and cover bills later. But for now, pick up the check.

3. Be confident. She already said yes. She wants to be there.

4. Dress to impress. You don’t need to wear a suit and tie to the local pub, but it wouldn’t hurt to brush your teeth and put on a shirt that doesn’t look slept in.

5. Be on time. And be gracious if she’s fashionably late. (She probably just doesn’t want to show up before you get there.)

6. Be attentive. Ask great questions. Listen. Smile.

7. Use compliments appropriately. She likely put some effort into her look for you, so offer her a compliment or two. Avoid a never-ending list of praise — it can get overwhelming — or comments that sound too sexual. “Beautiful” is better than “smokin’.”

8. Prove that chivalry is not dead. Sure, she’s an independent woman. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t open the door for her.

9. Say goodnight. Don’t let the evening end with a fizzle. Be intentional about saying goodbye, and initiate one of the following: a handshake, hug, or kiss. Don’t leave her standing there awkwardly at the end of the night.

10. Follow up. Ignore those three-day rules. If you had a great time, let her know the next day.

What is the best first date advice you have ever gotten?

Tips For Building a Loving Relationship

1. Create a safe environment where you can trust and share openly without being afraid.

Don’t interrupt, even if you need to put your hand over your mouth to stop yourself. Learn to fight fairly. No name calling. Don’t make threats. Apologize when you know you should. If you’re too angry to really listen, stop! Go into another room, take space for yourself, breathe and “calm down.”

2. Separate the facts from the feelings.

What beliefs and feelings get triggered in you during conflicts? Ask yourself: Is there something from my past that is influencing how I’m seeing the situation now? The critical question you want to ask: Is this about him or her, or is it really about me? What’s the real truth? Once you’re able to differentiate facts from feelings, you’ll see your partner more clearly and be able to resolve conflicts from clarity

3. Connect with the different parts of yourself.

Each of us is not a solo instrument. We’re more like a choir or an orchestra with several voices. What is your mind saying? What is your heart saying? What is your body saying? What is your ‘gut’ saying? For example: My mind is saying ‘definitely leave her,’ but my heart says ‘I really love her.’ Let these different voices or parts of you co-exist and speak to one another. In this way, you will find an answer that comes from your whole self.

4. Develop and cultivate compassion.

Practice observing yourself and your partner without judging. Part of you might judge, but you don’t have to identify with it. Judging closes a door. The opposite of judging is compassion. When you are compassionate, you are open, connected, and more available to dialoging respectfully with your partner. As you increasingly learn to see your partner compassionately, you will have more power to choose your response rather than just reacting.

5. Create a “we” that can house two “I’s”.

The foundation for a thriving, growing, mutually-supportive relationship is to be separate and connected. In co-dependent relationships, each person sacrifices part of him or her self, compromising the relationship as a whole. When you are separate and connected, each individual “I” contributes to the creation of a “we” that is stronger than the sum of its parts.

The differences between you and your partner are not negatives. You don’t need to be with someone who shares all of your interests and views. We may sometimes fear that these differences are incompatibilities, but in fact, they’re often what keeps a relationship exciting and full of good fire.

6. Partner, heal thyself.

Don’t expect your partner to fill your emotional holes, and don’t try to fill theirs. Ultimately, each of us can only heal ourselves. Your partner, however, can be supportive as you work with yourself, and vice versa. In fact, living in a loving relationship is healing in and of itself.

7. Ask questions when you’re unsure or are making assumptions.

All too often, we make up our own stories or interpretations about what our partners’ behavior means. For example: “She doesn’t want to cuddle; she must not really love me anymore.” We can never err on the side of asking too many questions, and then listen to the answers from your whole self — heart, gut, mind and body. Equally important is to hear what’s not being said — the facts and feeling that you sense might be unspoken.

8. Make time for your relationship.

No matter who you are or what your work is, you need to nurture your relationship. Make sure you schedule time for the well-being of your relationship. That includes making “playdates” and also taking downtime together. Frequently create a sacred space together by shutting off all things technological and digital. Like a garden, the more you tend to your relationship, the more it will grow.

9. Say the “hard things” from love.

Become aware of the hard things that you’re not talking about. How does that feel? No matter what you’re feeling in a situation, channel the energy of your emotions so that you say what you need to say in a constructive manner.

16 Reasons Men Freak Out About Dating

1. Statistically, what's the best way to avoid crushing loneliness? 

Nothing gives you more anxiety than seeing data about how you're going to spend the rest of your life alone. Should you meet someone at a bar? What is the probability of finding the love of your life online? What if the love of your life lives in Japan? What if there's a language barrier between you and your soul mate, and you'll never be happy because you'll never find The One? These are all relevant, rational questions everyone thinks about.

2. How do I ask someone out without coming off like a creepy stalker or like I don't care at all? 

How do we even toe that line?Even after we find someone we're into, asking her out is a whole other question. Do we try to play it smooth and bold, and potentially scare her off too soon? Do we avoid saying anything for three years? Do we get her number and text her a bunch until she finally asks to hang out? The options are numerous and stress-inducing.

3. Does this look like I dressed up or like my mom dressed me up? 

"What does this shirt say about me as a person?" we ask ourselves longingly as we stare into the mirror. We have to have a rugged but boyish charm. We need to look good without looking like we tried to look good. Ultimately, we need to wear a dress shirt and jeans.

4. Is a condom in the wallet a good idea? 

We don't want to look cocky or presumptuous if she happens to see a condom sticking out of our wallet, but we also don't want to be without one, just in case.

5. How drunk is just drunk enough? Should we order a few beers? Can we get so drunk that this date is no longer awkward? Will she judge us if we pass out in the bathroom for half an hour?

6. Will we be able to talk about anything beyond our favorite colors and our jobs?

It's not like we need to have a passionate and undying love for the same hockey team, but if we can't both sit at our table and make fun of what the other patrons are wearing, we're going to run out of "what do you do for a living" small talk rather quickly.

7. What if the restaurant is too expensive, like five-dollar-signs-on-Yelp expensive? 

Yeah, we made the recommendation and intend to pick up the check, but what if the restaurant is even more than we thought? What if she picks the most expensive thing on the menu? What if our card gets declined? If we sprint out of the restaurant, will she follow? If we can psychically orchestrate a dine-and-dash on the first date, we're probably soul mates.

8. How do I establish that I'm a badass with a heart of gold? 

In a perfect date situation, we get the opportunity to pull off some awesome date move that makes her fall in love instantly. Maybe we'll have the opportunity to clothesline a purse-snatcher as they run by or reenact that whole "Twist and Shout" scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

9. What if you talk about your ex? What if I talk about my ex? What if an ex shows up to the date? 

The only thing worse than having nothing to talk about is hearing about an ex she's clearly not over, or we go on and on about our exes. What was supposed to be a date turns into a therapy session.

10. What if I spend the night alone at the restaurant petrified of making eye contact with anyone else because I get stood up? "Oh, me? 

No, I'm not waiting for anyone! I just got all dressed up and came to this place to play Flappy Bird on my phone while I sit at a table by myself."

11. Is there such a thing as too many bathroom breaks? 

What if we have to pee in the middle of dinner and leave you alone? What if we have to do that more than once? What's worse: leaving the table multiple times or peeing our pants?

12. What if my favorite joke doesn't get any laughs? 

There are few things as quiet as the silence that falls over two people after one of them tells a joke the other person doesn't find funny. It's the sound of a kitten gently walking on freshly fallen snow, crying silent tears.

13. Is she different than my first impression? 

What if that great first impression was a complete fluke? Maybe we were both really drunk, and bonding over the game of Survivor Flip Cup we won together isn't a solid foundation for a relationship.

14. What if she's not impressed with us? What have I even accomplished? Should I bring my old soccer trophies to show off casually? 

We don't want to disappoint. What is it you even like about us, and how do we play that up as much as possible and downplay literally everything else?

15. What if I completely forget how to kiss? 

I'm pretty sure most people just black out when going in for a kiss and go straight from leaning in to kissing because the whole idea of a first kiss is so awkward your brain shuts down as a defense mechanism.

16. What if there's a second date? 

There's a sense of relief when we have that moment where we get to leave an awkward date and walk out into the night. We know we'll never see each other again, and it feels kind of like getting off a roller coaster: It might have been touch and go there for a while, but we survived. Way scarier is the prospect that the date went well, which means a second date, which means we have to start this process all over again…

How to Get Self Confidence: 10 Unusual and Effective Self-Confidence Techniques

The way to get self confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.

Developing self-confidence is a key to success in life and love. It's not 'who you are' that holds you back, it's 'who you think you're not'. You could be a movie star, a famous inventor, or a rich entrepreneur, but if you are not confident, you will only be these things in your dreams.

Without confidence, your fears will literally cripple you. That little voice inside your head usually whispers "you can't", however, when it realizes that you're listening, it gets louder. "YOU CAN'T!" This is what holds people back from being the best they can be.

You get self confidence by learning to silence your inner critic.

If you take a look at a list of phobias, you will see "public speaking" near the top of that list.

Imagine for a second that you have this phobia, and if you do have it, even better. Imagine that you have to give a speech on a subject you know a lot about. You will be speaking in a large auditorium, on a stage, in front of 200 people you don't know.

The fear of standing in front of a crowd and giving a presentation is enough to make you crazy! The thought sends chills up and down your spine, your heart races, your palms sweat. You wonder if you are going to forget everything you're supposed to say.

On the way to the event, you're a wreck. You've prepared, you know your subject matter, but you're still nervous. Your body is in major fight or flight mode.

The reason?

Because all of those self-confidence techniques you've learned, like imagining the audience naked, or staring right over their heads, all sound a bit silly when you're ready to give your speech. You want REAL self-confidence techniques. Not a quick-fix.

Realize that you don't have to "do" anything to get self-confidence. You already have it. It's there, buried underneath your insecurities and fears.

Instead of trying to boost or "get" self-confidence, work on letting go of self-doubt. Try eliminating undesirable character traits, rather than manufacturing desirable qualities. There is no scale you have to balance. Dis-inventing works better than trying to add a false positive.

Remember, you have all of the tools to be a competent and powerful human being. You just have to go inside of yourself and discover them. In the game of life, the most important skill to develop is confidence and the biggest hindrance to developing that skill is doubting yourself.

Below you will find the top 10 ways to rid yourself of growth-stunting and unattractive self-doubt. They may seem counter-intuitive, but these are self-confidence techniques that really work! All of these self-confidence techniques are discussed in detail. Click the links to learn more.


To get self confidence you can:

Fail fast, fail often, fail forward.

Put yourself in harm's way.

Be disagreeable.

Become incredibly selfish.

End your relationships.

Act like a child.

Seduce everyone you meet.

Stop going to church.

Wage war within yourself.

Have a temper tantrum, or two.


These are simple and effective ways for you to boost or get self confidence and love yourself more. The keys are in your hands. What are you going to do with them?

Learn How to Love Yourself

Do you know how to love yourself?

“To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I'.”
~Ayn Rand

Rand touches on a point that is worth exploring. You have to know and love YOU before even trying to love anyone else.

Have you heard yourself saying any of these things?

“I’m never going to find someone.”
“I can’t believe this happened… again.”
“I don’t want to just be friends, I want a girl/boyfriend.”
“I’m sick of playing games. I just want people to be real.”
“Maybe I need to focus on my career right now… love can wait.”

It’s as if you have tried EVERYTHING to find that one person that loves you, and no matter what you do, you can't find love.

Well, here's a little secret about attraction:

Learning how to love yourself is the foundation of any love relationship.

If you don't love YOU, you can't love anyone else. Period.

What does loving yourself mean?

BEING AWARE - Knowing who you are, how you act, what you believe, and why you think certain ways. Knowing your boundaries, strengths and weaknesses.

BEING VALUABLE - Recognizing your own worth and the validity of your opinions. Providing value to others because you tap into your individual talents.

BEING YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND - Liking, respecting, and trusting yourself. Treating yourself well. Taking care of your needs.

BEING ASSERTIVE - Confidently expressing your unique "I" in the world. Being proactive rather than reactive and staying true to yourself.

BEING COMMITTED - Acting in accordance with your personal development or spiritual growth. Making "growth" your number one priority.

BEING SELFISH (or SELF-MINDFUL) - Respecting yourself and not tolerating disrespect from others. Neither sacrificing yourself to others, nor letting others sacrifice themselves to you.

BEING RESPONSIBLE - Knowing that you are ultimately responsible for all outcomes in your life, positive and negative, and that you alone make the choices which create your experience.

BEING HAPPY ALONE - Enjoying your own company and using solitude for nourishment to reboot your energy. That way you can share love without getting depleted.

The most important person in your life is you. The person who you love the most in the world should be you! Why not? Who better than you?

"YOU" are the one person you have to spend every waking moment of your life with.

"YOU" are the only person who will be there for you when no one else is.

"YOU" are all you have no matter what.

When you first love yourself, you will give yourself what you need. You will become highly attractive to others because you are coming to them out of wholeness, not out of a repulsive neediness. You will be able to have fulfilling relationships, and you will have no problem ending relationships which don't serve your growth.

The concept is simple, though it isn't easy to learn how to love yourself. It's going to take some hard work. Are you ready for it?

By becoming self-mindful, taking it step-by-step, and developing self-confidence, you can increase your overall happiness in love and life.

All you have to do is FIRST LOVE YOU and everything else will fall into place.

Why Good Communication is More Important than Ever Now

Do you talk to your partner? When is the last time you had a conversation about something more significant than what to have for dinner or who needs to pick up the kids after school? In most marriages, the answers are not going to be reassuring. We’ve all heard experts talk about the importance of communication in a relationship, but why is it important and why can it help save your marriage during the recession?

Communication is Necessary for a Happy Marriage

People talk all the time but most conversations are not about important things that need to be said. If you’re not communicating about the recession and what it means for your family, for example, you could be doing great damage to your marriage. Chances are that both of you are worried and stressed. You might have doubts about your financial stability or concerns about you long-term future. But because most of us prefer to worry alone, we don’t talk about those feelings.

When people aren’t communicating about their feelings, the other partner assumes their worries aren’t being shared. This leads to arguments, pointing fingers, and retreating further into ourselves and avoiding communication with our partners even more.

Marriage Needs Communication

A happy marriage is a partnership, but no partnership has ever been effective without communication. If you’re not talking about the issues that really matter, you’re not finding solutions to the problems facing both of you. If you’re not talking about issues that matter to your partner, he or she is going to feel unimportant. If you’re not talking, someone else might very well start up that conversation with your spouse and that inevitably is going to ruin your marriage.

But starting a dialogue about important issues isn’t as easy as it sounds. You need guidance. A new book called How to Have a Good Marriage in a Bad Economy can help improve start you in the right direction to save your marriage by helping you learn how to improve your communication.

With the help of the book, you can learn to stop just talking and learn to start saying what really matters in your marriage. And if you order today, you’ll receive a bonus plus a surprise bonus and be on your way to that happy marriage even sooner.

The way you look at Yourself

Day by day, the majority of us have a painful war with ourselves. It is a constant fight that includes constant criticism, pressure, anger, sadness and endless cruel comparisons. It is an everyday struggle that gets in the way and keeps you from seeing yourself for who you really are and achieving your true purposes in life. Where did this war begin and why?

self esteemThe answer to that question can be answered in a well-known and very often used word: Self-Esteem. What exactly does self-esteem mean? Self-Esteem is the way you look at and feel about yourself. The word "esteem" itself, means to value something or someone, thinking and believing that that something or someone is of great importance. If you are always fighting with yourself and feeding yourself thoughts that make you feel less valuable or not as important or attractive as other people, then you are suffering from Low Self-Esteem. Unfortunately, most people suffer from this, but the good news is, you can kick low self-esteem out of your life, inviting and living a high self-esteem instead.

Living a life of great confidence can be challenging, but can be done. You might have even tried giving your self-esteem a boost, but were later disappointed to see that it did not quite work out the way you imagined. If this is true, do not run away just yet! This behavior is very common. Like every other person, you have probably adapted and grown to believe that feeling insecure and feeling that you are not good enough is normal and impossible to beat; therefore you just accept it and set an subconscious rule that you need to and deserve to feel badly and poorly when you look at yourself. This is where you need to take a few steps back. The thing about low self-esteem is, that is cannot be cured in one day, or even soon for that matter. The first thing you need to stop doing is giving yourself and everything around you unrealistic deadlines.

Accomplishing high self-esteem will not happen in an instant. It requires hard work and constant reassurance. When working on achieving high self-esteem, know that it can never and will never be achieved as long as you keep negative ingredients involved, such as giving up. This is one of the biggest reasons you look at yourself in such a valueless manner. Yes, it will be hard to get rid of, especially because "giving up" is partnered with another negative ingredient named "laziness". The truth is, you do wish to change the way you look at and feel about yourself, but you have grown to become too lazy to do anything about it. Why? For the factual reason that you find it easier to stay in the place and position that you are already in. It does not matter if it is an extremely negative position or place. What does matter and needs to be realized is that you have chosen to stay in negativity for so long, that you have become so comfortable with the fact that you do not like yourself. You may not have noticed, as most of the other low self-esteemed don't, that you now crave and need to feel sorry for yourself and subconsciously enjoy victimizing yourself and grabbing negative attention from others. This is exactly why terminating low self-esteem is difficult. You handed over all of your power and strength to it, allowing it to dictate your being and the way you handle life.

Once you have realized and accepted these facts, you can begin your boosting process. Begin by becoming a best friend to yourself instead of an enemy. With this best friend, you, stand up for yourself and face that low self-esteem in the face, along with all the fears that come with it. Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you do not feel sorry for yourself anymore and that you have the power and strength to feel and be happy, confident and successful, and you will do it because you are valuable and deserve it, just as anyone else would. Reassuring yourself is a big key to staying focused and improving the way you feel about yourself and the life you live. So do not be afraid to face yourself, and every time you do look at yourself and observe the things that go on around you, take notes of the positive things and the things you do like and admire about yourself.

Another essential thing you must stop doing is comparing yourself to others. You are you and not anyone else, and never will be anyone else. People are different and are created with different packages and talents. You are different and unique and hold talents and qualities that no one else has and will never have, and that is something to take pride in and love about you. Concentrate on learning and knowing that you are special, loveable, capable and very much acceptable. It all begins with accepting yourself, and you are the most important person to receive acceptance from. Once you have received official approval and acceptance from yourself, everything and everyone else around you will do the same and follow.

Living a life of great confidence can be challenging, but can be done. You might have even tried giving your self-esteem a boost, but were later disappointed to see that it did not quite work out the way you imagined. If this is true, do not run away just yet! This behavior is very common. Like every other person, you have probably adapted and grown to believe that feeling insecure and feeling that you are not good enough is normal and impossible to beat; therefore you just accept it and set an subconscious rule that you need to and deserve to feel badly and poorly when you look at yourself. This is where you need to take a few steps back. The thing about low self-esteem is, that is cannot be cured in one day, or even soon for that matter. The first thing you need to stop doing is giving yourself and everything around you unrealistic deadlines.

When you do come to times where you are not satisfied with the way you look or the things you have done, shift your mind and soul over to a positive side, pointing out the things you are happy with and feel great about, and always reward yourself for it. Treat yourself to something special that you will enjoy and feel fabulous about, and remind yourself that tomorrow is another day, which comes with brand new opportunities and more chances. Lastly, make your presence appear only around other positive people and other positive energies. Maintaining a healthy and high self-esteem will be successful if you continue to motivate and encourage it. So get up, stop feeling sorry for yourself and start changing the way you feel about and look at yourself. You deserve to happy and confident, because you are a fantastic and very special individual. You can do it and you know you can!

Is Your Partner the Marrying Type?

Sure, you and your partner love each other, you connect well and have a rather healthy relationshipbut is your partner the one you should marry? Being a great boyfriend or girlfriend is different than being great spouse material. Many people assume that just because they get along great with their partners as boyfriend and girlfriend, that they will automatically end up married, living happily ever after. The sooner you find this out, the better, because it will really prevent a lot of confusion and heart ache later. However, even if you have been with your partner for many years, it does not mean you should stay in the relationship simply because you have been together for a long time. The first thing you need to do is understand what your goals are with your relationship. This way you will be fully aware of your expectations and standards and can then focus on your partner and see whether you two are on the boat or not.marriage doubts

So, how can you tell whether your partner is the marriage type? Well, the signs are very clear to read, if you are just willing to see the truth and nothing but the truth, even if it is not always what you want. The first step in seeing this truth, is throwing your blinders away and to observe all angles of your relationship- not just the wonderful parts that you want to see. If you are the type of person who would like to settle down and get married when the time is right, then you are naturally going to want a partner who will have the same dreams and goals as you when it comes to love and relationships. While this is only natural, you should not assume that just because you are involved with your partner in a serious relationship that it will end in marriage. This is exactly why you must talk about this with your partner once your relationship reaches a comfortable enough point to talk about marriage and commitment.

Of course, there are some relationships where it is difficult to read your partner, due mixed signals. If you feel that your partner loves you, but are not really sure whether he or she will ever actually get married to you, then the following signs are what you should look out for:

marriage doubts Your partner tries to change the subject or brushes you off whenever you bring up marriage.

marriage doubts He or she tells you that marriage is not something that he/she is too crazy about.

marriage doubts Tells you that he/she wants to marry you, but keeps making excuses on why you cannot marry now and keeps you waiting for a long time (years).


Is he or she really someone that you see yourself be with for the rest of your lives

If any of these apply to your relationship, then your partner is most likely not the marrying type and would probably make you wait a very long time to finally marry you, or never marry you at all. Some common excuses a partner gives as to why now is no a good time to marry are : wedding ring
1) I am not ready yet
2) “ Well get married when we have more money
3) Id like to get some other things done first
4) “ We love each other, so whats the rush?....and so on.”

The best thing to do is to observe your partners behavior around the topic of marriage and then trust your instincts. Do not rob yourself of true happiness by telling yourself that he or she will eventually come around or that you can change him/her, because this usually never works and you will only end up waiting around for a man or woman who will never give you what you truly want.

If your partner ends up not being the marrying type, then you should try and move on as soon as possible, so that you can move on and find someone who will see love the same way you do. If you try to adapt to your partners non marrying ways, you may be okay for a while because of the love you feel for him or her, but you would eventually grow tired of it and would resent your partner and yourself for not accepting the truth a long time ago. Getting married is a beautiful life experience, but only if it is with a person who wants to be in it just as eagerly as you do.

Making Healthy Investments into Your Relationship

Like everything else you wish to succeed in, relationships require effort and investments. How is the health status of your relationship account? When you start an account, you always start off with such enthusiasm and with goals to grow this account into a healthy, strong one that will give you a happy future. The thing is, most people open their relationship account with eagerness like this, only to get lazy and procrastinate over time, leading the relationship onto an unhealthy path. Laziness will always set you up for failure, including your relationship. As a healthy relationshiprelationship matures and get older, the lazier a couple tends to get. You get so comfortable with each other, that you no longer bother to invest the time and efforts you did at the beginning. People often believe that if they are comfortable in their relationship, then everything is okay and/or will work itself out. Being comfortable, however, does not always mean your relationship is healthy. Being comfortable could simply mean that you and your partner are used to being together, as well as used to the way the relationship is- even if a relationship is lacking important things that could make it better. This happens so gradually sometimes, that a couple often does not know where things went wrong- and all they know is that their relationship went downhill and things do not feel the same anymore. The excitement is gone, the passion has faded and the communication has gone from strong to weak, making it difficult for a couple to work together once they do realize that their relationship is in trouble.

The following are some things you and your partner need to constantly invest to your relationship account if you want to maintain a healthy and loving relationship:

1. Honesty. You have probably heard the famous saying- honesty is the best policy. Well, it really is! While the truth may not always be pleasant, it is always better to let your partner know what you are thinking and how you are feeling, rather than keeping it all inside of you and expecting your partner to read your mind. You also need to open and accepting of the truth your partner shares with you about yourself and the relationship over all. If you are not willing to hear the truth (and the truth can be painful sometimes), then you are not willing to fully experience the relationship as a whole- but instead choose to blind yourself from certain things because it makes life easier for you (or at least it will look that way to you). So invest honesty into your relationship every day throughout the whole year- being always honest with your partner and yourself.

2. Respect. You and your partner can have extremely strong feelings for each other and may claim to love each other dearly and more than anything. Without respect however, that love will get lost in the big shadow of disrespect that will take over your relationship. Respect may seems like something that is only natural for you and your partner to have for each other and that if you love each other, then it will be very difficult to disrespect each other. This may be true in the beginning when things are new between you, but in time things change and requires maintenance. As a relationship matures and you and your partner spend more time together, you will experience different things and will learn new things about each other. good relationshipThough the love you have for each other may be something you have in common, you two are still individual human beings with different habits, views, routines, interests and so on. You may not always like or agree with the way your partner handles things, believes things and says things- but you will have to accept and respect that this is who he/she is. If you cannot respect your partner and your partner does not respect you, then your relationship will not last- and if it does, it will grow into an unhappy relationship that will invite many other stressful and painful issues. Invest respect daily into your relationship and do not allow yourself to cross that line and enter the territory of disrespect. If you so, you and your partner will not see each other the same way.

3. Expressions of Love. You may see this one as a given, but it is not. People tend to get a little too comfortable as time goes by in a relationship and become less concerned with expressing their love and admiration for their partner. This, majority of the time, is not intentional, but it does happen regardless of being intentional or not. People do this because they become too confident. They know they love their partner and that their partner loves them and use that as their security. While knowing that you love each other is great and powerful, it will not be enough to make your relationship last in a happy way. People need to know that they are loved and cherished and that they are not being taken for granted. Laziness is a persons worst enemy and it will cost you your relationship if you do not take the time to let your partner know that he/she is special and the love of your life. Tell your partner how much he/she means to you, write something thoughtful in card and give it to him/her, set a date to take him/her out someplace you know you two will truly enjoy and feel like a successful romantic couple. It does not require anything fancy to express your love to your partner and keep him/her satisfied, but the rewards for doing so will be wonderful and extremely beneficial to your relationship. Also remember, if your partner is not investing his/her share of efforts in showing you how much you mean to him/her, then you need to observe your relationship closely and give it a check up to see how healthy or unhealthy it really is. Talk to your partner about how you feel and give him/her time to make positive changes and improvements that will please you. If they lack to do so even after your honest communication, then you will need to ask yourself if you think you are with the right person. After all, you deserve to be with someone who will truly care about how you feel and will never want to disappoint or hurt you if they know they hold the power to make things different.

4. Freedom. Give your partner freedom? Yes! Not the kind of freedom where you both are allowed to just go off and behave recklessly to towards the relationship, but freedom in a way that lets both you and your partner continue to be individuals. As a couple in a relationship you will be one, but outside that circle, you two will still be individuals who will need and want to continue to discover more about yourselves as people. You both will grow in time and you will get different callings in life, but in order for you to hear these callings and act on them, you and your partner need to give each other the freedom to do so. Do not cling to each other so tight that you cannot separate and be individuals and do not control your partner or allow your partner to control you. Controlling or being controlled is not love or an expression of how much your partner loves you. Control is selfish and is robbing a person from having a relationship with them selves. Invest freedom in your relationship and you and your partner will grow even closer together! You will have more to share with each other too.

Invest all of these into your relationship account and watch the interest grow. You and your partner will be happy and will earn the feeling of taking pride in your successful relationship.

Taking a break help your Relationship

There are times when a relationship reaches a point where one or both partners feel the need for some space and want a break from each other, believing that a break will do the relationship good. Can taking time apart from each other help your relationship or is taking a break simply a way to avoid certain issues that will still be there waiting for you when you get back together?

First Tip: Do not use Breaks as a quick fix.

Every relationship varies and it is important that every couple understands that taking time apart is not a substitute for fixing or solving problems, because if you part when you are having problems, they will be waiting for you when you meet again- so it is essential that you talk about your issues first before you decide a break is needed and best for the relationship. Many get scared and paranoid when their partner asks for some time alone because they fear that their partner may not love them anymore or will not come back. Though it is always possible for your partner to change their mind during the break and decide not to continue with the relationship, there is no need to fear taking the break, because the two of you would eventually have broken up anyway, if your partner was already thinking of doing so before- so it is inevitable.

A Break can help you re-discover your Individual self.relationship break

Many times, one or both people in a relationship will lose themselves in some way or form and will begin to feel stress and resentment in the relationship, even though it may not be about their partner personally. In every relationship, couples will compromise their differences to keep things healthy and happy and in making these compromising and changes, you both have to let go of a part of yourselves in order to compromise your differences. Sometimes this happens so often, that one or both of you will feel like you have completely lost yourselves and will feel stressed and resentment towards each other, even though it has nothing to do with any of you in particular. Relationships can get so deep- and you both can connect as ' one ' so intensely that you neglect yourselves as individuals, and in order to re-discover yourselves, there will need to be some time apart from each other. Remember, you need to be whole as an individual first in order to be whole together as a couple, and time apart is best if one or both of you feel like you need to get back in touch with your individuality.

Slow down the Pace to learn more about each other.

Some couples get so excited when they enter a relationship, that everything moves so fast, which can get stressful, pressuring and scary, in which a break is then a good idea as well. Taking time apart can help a relationship build a better bond because you will both replenish yourselves during the break and will then be able to give the relationship the efforts and attention needed to keep it healthy. If you are afraid that you will lose the relationship if you take a break, just remember that you would have broken up later anyway- not because of the break, but because you grew apart, had irreparable issues or maybe your partner (or you) just wanted to move on. So do not fear what is not in your control. Just stay calm and see what good a break can do for both of you and your relationship. Besides, you both owe it to yourselves to get back in touch with your individualities and learn more new things about yourself, so that you will be able to teach your partner more about you- and the more you know about each other, the more you will understand your differences and will be able to build the connection that works best for the both of you.

Communication that really improves Relationships

Communication is something we all know is necessary to keep any relationship strong and loving, and although we are aware of the importance of communication, we still seem to be clueless about what exactly good communication really is. This does not mean you are clueless as a person, but it does mean that more attention is required on your part, so that you can become more open and invite the many forms of communication that exist, so that you will be able to understand yourself and your partner much better. There is nothing that keeps a relationship healthy, better than understanding and once you start becoming more familiar with your communicating styles, as well as your partners, you will be able to work better as a team in making the best of your relationship.improve relationship

The first step in achieving better communication that will really work, is to take a look at you first. People always tend to turn to their partner first when things are not running so smoothly in their relationship. They automatically start pointing out what their partner is doing or not doing, as well as how their partner is not listening to them. This may all be true depending on your particular situation, but it is important that you take the responsibility in reviewing your own actions and communication first, before you can point anything out in your partner. Remember, it is very easy to see other peoples mistakes, but when it comes to looking at you, it is much harder to accept criticism, even from yourself- because no one wants to be wrong. This is where you need to get real about things. Communication is not about who is right or wrong, but instead about helping each other see things from each others perspective, so that you can be on the page and avoid any misunderstanding that will cause unneeded arguments.

Getting along with a Parent

Finding Peace when You don't get along with a Parent

Not getting along with a parent can be very painful emotionally. Even after you have grown into a mature adult and have found a life of your own, there is always a part of you that feels haunted by the bad relationship you have with one or both of your parents. When one does not feel fully accepted, love, understood or respected by a parent, there is an emptiness living inside you and while you may be able to move on with your life okay and find happiness, it is always preferred to have a close and healthy bond with your parents.parent
So how can you find peace when you don’t get along with a parent? By doing your hare mostly- and knowing that you did what you could to save the relationship.


But let us first start by seeing where the problems may have begun:
It all really starts long before the child is even born. If you are not getting along with you parent or parents, it may help you feel better knowing that it is not your fault. It starts from an early age when you as a child have no responsibility what so ever. Most likely, the parent was not fit or ready to be a parent.
Of course, there are valuable reasons why a parent may be unfit or naive. At this point it is important to acknowledge that there may be a number of reasons why you and your parent(s) are not getting along. Reflect back and try to figure out what makes your parents tick and what may have lead to the conflicts existing between you.
When considering all aspects, it is important to disregard the feelings of the heart (meaning emotions that can cloud your judgment) and really look at things as they are, which can be challenging, but it is important to try.
In general, a good and healthy parent is one that-

1. Accepts the responsibility to be a parent
2. Has the financial means to support a family
3. Maintains a healthy relationship with their spouse/significant other
4. Has parenting knowledge/education (at least to a certain degree, but no one ever is an expert and it is a never ending learning experience)
5. Has a physical/mental/emotional balance to engage with their children

All those factors and more can make a difference for a parent to have a better understanding of their children. They can create the proper tactics to educate a child, as well as guide them lovingly in the direction of their beliefs. However, it would also be important to not neglect the personality of the child in this process, for each child is unique—whether it has to do with learning ability, personality, etc and sometimes parents do not understand this and this is where problems start.


It is true that many families raise their children with apparently no problems, but that is only what everyone claims. However, when looking deeply within each member, especially the children, it may not be true. Often children can fall into rituals or habits of obeying their parents, but that does not mean there are not any problems. Humans can easily get lost in following patterns, traditions, etc. Many individuals are afraid to reveal their desires or differences of opinion, especially children to their parents. For that reason, many appear obedient, humble, and happy- and it could easily be the opposite. In fact, by pleasing your parents without making mistakes, you are not having much of a gain. The child may be losing the true meaning of their life pleasing their parent(s), when they could actually be fulfilling their authenticity and finding themselves.
A child who does not get along with their parent(s) is really a child who is exercising their strengths to overcome the obstacle of trying to make his/her points or trying to share his/her views as an individual.
The naive parent will clash with this particular type of personality, assuming their child is just disrespectful and wild. It may be a frequent occasion that is vaguely spoken about or displayed. In this type of situation, it is best to not feel guilty. Find comfort and happiness in knowing that it is the nature of the child and the parent. Do not forget that there may be valuable reasons why you and your parent(s) are not getting along; it is not your fault. It is not because your parent(s) have a lack of love for you, that you are a bad person or that you are just plain unlikeable. It could be that they just disagree with your choices, desires, views and/or decisions. Keep in mind that every individual’s mind is a separate world. With that said, it is also very possible that you share the same strengths and weaknesses as your parent(s), whom you are conflicting with intensely and sometime similarities like this can also create conflicts.
If you wish to try and build a healthier relationship with your parent(s)…

* Make things better with your parent(s) by communication more openly. Communication is essential! Find the right moment to speak with your parent(s). Remember to be kind and respectful toward him/her and be sincere. After all, there is a lot to gain, and also a lot to lose—for both parties. Let them know how they honestly make you feel and express yourself fully so they can hear and see how you have been affected. If you have ever felt unfulfilled by the responses of your parent(s), it is important for you to know that the parent(s) most likely suffers the same dissatisfaction or more—whether it is expressed or not. It may take time for you and your parent(s) to come to a point of understanding and will not happen over night.

* Grow closer to the parent(s) by getting to know them. Besides just letting them know how you feel, get to know how they feel, so you too can have a better understanding of how they think and feel about certain things. There is no guarantee that the outcome will be positive, but it is worth the effort. When you know you really put in your best efforts to improve the relationship, you will at least know you did your part and showed your love and interest in making things better.

Remember, it is no one’s fault to have differences. A child and his/her parent(s) must have differences to some degree. It is also important to remember to do only your best, and that there is a side you are not responsible for. Consider all aspects—you must use your heart along with your intellectuality. If you consider yourself a more skillful child than your parents, then use that ability to get close and to find an understanding with them. This may prevent you from feeling unloved or having feeling guilt that you do not deserve to feel. Take it on slow step at a time and eventually you will reach a point where you will be able to decide whether you can have a close relationship with your parent or if keeping a healthy distance is best for you and everyone involved.

Are you in Denial?

Is He Really Worth the Wait, or are You in Denial?

Dating is not always easy and finding an interesting person to even consider dating is often challenging enough as it is. So when we do find someone interesting enough, we often hold on to them, with the hope that the connection will grow into something special.

The question you need to ask yourself however, is: How special is the connection between you and this “interesting” person?

As women, when we meet someone we really like, we often become infatuated quickly and without intention, create this illusion that leads us to disappointment and injured emotions that we do not deserve.

Have you met someone you feel drawn to romantically and want things to head to the next stage, but just cannot seem to get there? If so, welcome to a common situation many of us women find ourselves in. Is this new man in your life really worth your time and patience, or are you just in denial about how special the connection between you really is? It is important for you to be observant and pay attention to whether or not you are making excuses for him when he does not put in the effort you would like him to.

Making excuses for someone is something very common that people do, especially women. When we like a man enough, we convince ourselves that he is worth our time by making excuses for his lazy and inconsiderate behavior. Deep down however, you already know whether he is truly crazy about you too, or not.

Here are some signs of a man who truly does want you:

1. He calls you and gets in touch with you (phone, e-mail, etc) as often as he can.
2. Calls you when he says he will
3. Pays attention to what you like (example: types of movies, flowers, food, music, so on) and then invests efforts in making sure he can provide you with it. So for example, if he knows Italian is your favorite food, he will try to find a nice Italian restaurant to take you to, because he wants to impress you and make you happy.
4. He expresses his feelings to you and lets you know how much he likes you.
5. He does not mind doing most of the chasing

Now, here are some signs of a man who is not that interested in you:

1. He takes his time to get in touch with you and does not seem very excited to talk to you again.
2. Tells you he will call you, and then breaks that promise.
3. Leaves you wondering about how he really feels about you. Not being emotionally expressive enough.
4. Does not invest much effort in trying to impress you or set up nice dates.
5. He seems relaxed and not concerned with chasing you all that much- leaving a lot of room for you to look for him.

If you find yourself making excuses to any of the signs above that point to him not being very interested in you, you are not alone. You obviously like this man a lot and like him enough at this time to feel he worth making excuses for, but…are you really happy?

Sure, there are exceptions where we should give people the benefit of the doubt, but there is a difference between a mistake we can of course excuse and forgive and man who simply does not treat you well enough.

Yes, we are living in modern times where women play strong roles in the career and work field and are not afraid to take charge and be aggressive, including in the romance department. If we see a man we want, most of us are not old fashioned enough to just wait around. We are ready to take charge and flirt, e-mail and call- if it means starting up a relationship with a man we want. While this is great and we should feel strong and confident enough about ourselves to do this, we also should not forget how men are programmed by nature. Do not rob a man of the fun he has in chasing after a woman he really longs for. As fun as it may be for you to be the aggressive one, the truth is, if you spend too much time being aggressive and getting in touch with him all the time, you are not giving him or yourself the chance to really find out how much he wants you. Do not be afraid to lie back sometimes and see just how much effort he feels you are worth. If he really wants to get to know you and be with you romantically, then he will not miss his chance to call you, e-mail you, or make the time to take you out.

So be honest with yourself and do not make excuses, no matter how much you like him. After all, you want to be with someone who wants you just as bad and shows it- not someone you have to run after and wonder about.

One Important Note: Avoid the “Busy Excuse”

Do not make the busy excuse for him. Yes, people get busy, but if you are not too busy to think about him, then he is not too busy to think about you either. If you really are on his mind, he will make the time, if only a moment, to let you know he was thinking about (whether through a phone call, text message or e-mail.).

Sometimes a person can have a crazy day and this is okay, but if it happens too often, then it has nothing to do with him being busy- it has to do with him being lazy, and you are worth more than that!