_There are subtle ways to let a man know that you really like him. Use these tips to catch his attention without being overly forward.
  • During a date use body language or subtle physical contact. For example, lean toward him and laugh at one of his jokes. A gentle touch to the shoulder, back or hand lets him know you are into him. Be sure not to pour it on. You don't want to come on too strong!
  • Tell him that you enjoyed the time together on the date. This will keep him from wondering if you liked the date or not.
  • Suggest something to do for the next date. For example, “I think it would be fun if we went bowling the next time we go out.” This lets him know you’re interested and looking to future dates with him. It also takes some of the pressure off of him figuring out what to do on subsequent dates.
  • Eye contact is very important. While the two of you are on the date make certain to maintain eye contact with him. You do not have to stare him down. Glance in his eyes for a moment and see if he responds by keeping eye contact.

  • Call or text message after the date to let him know you had a good time. This gives him the opportunity to set up another date with you. Just call once to show your appreciation of the date and see how he responds. Never harass a man by calling repeatedly.

  • Buy a single rose and give it to him on your next date. Men often enjoy flowers as much as women.

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_ Feeling blue because you’re already 40 or older and haven’t found true love? Well, you shouldn’t be. Love knows no age and there is no set age for when you will find a lifetime partner. The most important thing is that you never lose hope! You cannot find true love if you’ve given up on finding the right person. Be open to love, but remember to be patient and use discretion for the type of person you bring into your life.

Just because you’re in your 40s doesn’t mean you can’t find the love you want. After all, these days the 40s are like the new 30s--you still have vitality and many opportunities waiting. You have more wisdom and experience in choosing a partner, more so than you did when you were younger.

You have to get out of your comfort zone and have a positive attitude. Don’t hide behind work or excuses. Take up courses at the local university or join a skills class like pottery or even yoga. Socialize with other people; be open to blind dates and make friends with the people you meet. Make yourself visible and available, but never desperate.

Enjoy your 40s without worrying about your age; you’ll only stress yourself out. The clock might be ticking, but giving up hope won't get you closer to what you want. Age is only a number, but it's your attitude that will carry you far. While it might feel like forever until the right person comes along, all the waiting and worrying will be worth it.  Keep yourself looking and feeling your best. Do it for yourself and who knows...the right person might just be around the corner.


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__ There are many wonderful date ideas for winter months. The key is to be a little creative. You don’t have to break your budget or wallet to enjoy some special dates during the winter months.

Campfire Night

Build a small and safe campfire pit in the yard. Gather up wood during the warmest part of the day. Just as dusk sets in, light the fire pit. Tell childhood ghost stories and roast marshmallows over the open flame. Wrap yourselves in a blanket to break the chill and wind. Campfires are a great way to have romance outside on milder winter nights and get to know one another a little better.

Hike Through the Woods and a Dinner Date

Not every day in winter is bitterly cold. On one of the warmer days, visit your local park or lake. Hike one of the many trails available. Bring plenty of water to keep hydrated. At the end of the hike, go out to dinner together at a nearby restaurant that neither of you have visited before.

Scavenger Hunt

Make a day of visiting the different consignment, Goodwill and other shops in the area. Make a scavenger hunt list of items to find during the date. Point the items out to each other and mark them off the list. You can turn the scavenger hunt into more fun by purchasing items on the list to give to the less fortunate.

TV Series Night

Select a television series that has recently completed that neither of you watched. Hook up the television to the computer and rent the shows to watch one night a week. Have some delicious, healthy snacks to eat while you watch the shows. You can often find a TV series that is available for instant streaming. During the week talk about the show together to build anticipation for the one night a week or on the weekend that you watch the show together.

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_Whether you wanted your relationship to end or not, it is still a breakup. A broken relationship often leaves you intimidated with the mere thought of dating again. You might have lost your confidence in attracting someone else or your self-esteem might have plummeted because of the breakup. It is possible to date again and actually enjoy the experience!

Think Well of Yourself

You need to think well of yourself if you want someone else to think well of you. This does not mean that you should be arrogant or full of yourself, but focus on your good qualities and believe that you have something to offer. Build your self-esteem by focusing on your good qualities. If you feel you need improvement, be it a new hairstyle or to lose a few pounds, take steps in working toward those goals.

Think Positive Thoughts

A breakup can make you feel insecure or even make you feel that something is wrong with you. You will not be very successful in dating if you carry the negative thoughts and feelings of the past with you. Change those negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Learn to love yourself and the person that you are. People are drawn to positivity and an aura of positivity will make your dating life more successful.

Do Not Go Crazy

Do not go crazy with dating again. Sure, it will feel great to get back into dating, but don't go overboard by going out with just anyone for the sake of going out. Use discretion in who you date and what you do on the dates. You don't have to prove yourself by having a zillion dates or by becoming someone you are not on the dates.

Expectations

When you go on a date, it is only reasonable to hope that your date likes you and finds you attractive. But, if they don't, it isn't the end of the world. Not everyone is for you and you won't be for everyone. Go on a date with the expectation of having a good time and enjoying the experience for what it is. If it leads to another date or even a future relationship, all the better. Just don't set your expectations for the date so high that you end up miserable and disappointed.

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_A sure-fire method to kill the dating mood is becoming too clingy. One of the functions of dating is to establish a bond slowly and having healthy time away from each other. Signs of being too clingy are: constantly calling, text messaging, dropping by unannounced and hovering during dates. When you are starting over in life because of divorce or a breakup, you might be vulnerable and feel the need to cling to the next person you meet. This will only backfire.

Constantly Calling and Text Messaging

There is a fine line between clinginess and simply giving a date too much space. Being too clingy can cause the feeling that you are desperate, too lonely or too high-maintenance. On the other hand, not calling or text messaging could send the wrong message that you are not interested in the person you are dating. For example, limit text messaging to a couple times a day or a phone call to once or twice a week.

Dropping By Unannounced

Avoid dropping by unannounced to a date’s home. Everyone has their personal space and habits. Unexpected visits can be awkward and uncomfortable. As a general rule of thumb, always talk to your date prior to going to their home. Showing up unannounced implies that you feel the right to do as you please without considering your date's feelings.

Hovering During Dates

You are no longer in high school and don't have to mark or claim your dates to keep the other kids from trying to ruin the relationship. Engaging conversation, a bit of humor and even holding hands lets others know that you are on a date with one another. Wrapping your arm around your date, constantly touching them and even giving light kisses throughout the date are examples of hovering and being clingy. Avoid these. Save the intimate touches for when you and your date are alone with each other.

Finding the balance between being too clingy and not expressing enough interest is imperative to successful dating. This balance gives a chance for a relationship to develop and mature.

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_Often, being shy is mistaken for a lack of interest in the other person or the date. Being shy can be difficult to overcome. However, opening up and not being shy increases your dating success for finding the right match for you. You have to do more than just exist to gain the interest of your date.

Smile at Your Date

Even though it might be difficult for you to talk about a lot with your date, remember to smile. If your date is smiling or laughing, mirror their behavior. This lets your date know you’re interested. You don't want to come off as disinterested by not talking or not having any expressions. It isn't fun being on a date with a mummy!

Follow Your Date’s Lead

Pay attention to your date and make eye contact (even if it’s brief). If your date is focused on a particular topic, ask questions and follow the date’s lead on the topic. For example, your date is talking about their job. You could ask how they decided on their profession or what type of training they had to enter their career. Questions about topics of interest enable you to learn about your date without having to talk a great deal. Showing interest in your date by asking questions that aren't too personal will get you far. It shows you want to get to know them better.

Practice in Front of a Mirror

Think of general questions you can ask your date to keep the conversation flowing. Practice asking these general questions with eye contact and a smile in front of a mirror. This will increase your comfort zone for asking questions when there is a silent pause in the conversation.

Practice Makes Perfect

You've heard the phrase, "practice makes perfect". Those words hold a lot of meaning. Practice overcoming your shyness with friends and family. Break out of your comfort zone and slowly build up your confidence in speaking out. Ask questions. Show more genuine interest. Allow others to know your thoughts and feelings. Use opportunities in everyday life to overcome your shyness. People will never know who you really are unless you show them.

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Musical Interests

Music is a wonderful topic and can be expanded upon. Most everyone likes music. Find out the genres your date likes. You can build on this by asking about specific bands, artists, songs and what interests them about each. I like to discuss interpretation of lyrics. That opens a broad line of communication.

Places Lived or Traveled

Discussing places you've lived or traveled to can be very interesting. You may find you've had similar experiences or vastly different experiences you can learn from. Ask details. Ask what they liked or disliked about places they've lived or traveled to. You can learn if they like cold or warm climates, a bustling city or simplistic country life or something in between.

Movies

Movies, old and new, can create a wealth of discussion from the type of movies each likes to specific actors. Maybe they prefer adventure or horror movies as opposed to romantic or comedy. This choice helps give an insight to the type of person your date is.

Pets

Ask if they have any pets. This gives a good idea of compatibility. If they hate cats and you have a dozen of them, you might have a problem. Their reaction will be quite telling. Some people can tolerate pets and there are those who cannot stand to be around them. Couples have broken up over issues such as this. Better to know early on.

Favorite Foods

Everyone eats so this topic can't go wrong. Discussing the many types of food can lead to knowing if they like to eat out or prefer to eat at home and also if they enjoy cooking. You may find your date is such a good cook they could be a chef or they don't know how to boil an egg.

Leisure Time

Asking about what they do in their leisure time can give you an idea if they are more the couch potato type or the more adventurous. You'll be able to gauge if your interests are similar enough should a relationship evolve. You'll also learn how interested they are in what you like to do and how they react to your choices.

Siblings

Asking about siblings shows an interest in family life, but doesn't get too personal. You'll learn if they have close family ties and experiences they have had with siblings. They may offer a glimpse into their childhood which can be fascinating.

Sports

Some people hate sports and some are fanatics. Again, this topic can offer a view of your compatibility level. A love for the same types of sports can draw people close together and certainly involve many interesting discussions.



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There is some awkwardness about who will pay on a first date. You don't want to make a bad impression by being unprepared or creating a moment of awkwardness. Traditionally, the man asked the woman out and paid for the date. Times have changed, but there is proper etiquette to help you decide who pays for the date.

If you are a man and are the one who asked the woman on a first date, be prepared to pay. If you are a woman who has asked a man out on a first date, be prepared to pay. However, in either case, the offer should be made to split the costs--even if the offer is declined.

In some cases, who pays for the first date might be established when making the date. For example, a woman might talk to a man on the phone and ask him out to lunch and say that it's her treat. While on the date, it is up to the man to offer or not to pay his part. Or he could offer to pay for the next date, indicating that there will be a second date.

The last thing you want to do is to ask someone on a first date and show up without the ability to pay. You will give the impression of a mooch and your date will be left with a bad impression of you.


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* Don't talk about controversial subjects. This can lead to tension.
* Don't talk about your ex. This implies you still have loose ends.
* Don't talk about finances. This is too personal for a first date.
* Don't lie to impress. Lies come out eventually and you'll be seen as a fool.
* Don't have a wandering eye. Focus on your date. A wandering eye isn't respectful.

Remember...too much, too soon of anything has a tendency to make a bad impression. Go slow, be yourself and keep things simple! Focus on your date so they know you are genuinely interested and your first date will more than likely lead to a second date.
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Perhaps cupid threw a rock at your heart, or you've never been able to get a good connection with women when dating. If so, here are 5 golden rule dating tips for men that can land you on the golden ticket to a woman's heart.

 1. Dress to impress. When you are at your best with your clothing attire you will be even more confident on your date. You don't have to spend lots of money on clothing, but should put out effort to look your best. Showing you care about yourself commands respect.
                                     
 2. Clip, Clip, Snip, Snip -  Keep your hair neatly trimmed and groomed. If you take pride in yourself, in turn, someone will  take pride in you.

 3. Never claim to be a Know-it-All. There's nothing wrong with good conversation, just don't let your date have to take an ASVAB test to be on your level.
                                           
 4. Don't Talk About the Other Woman. By all means don't talk about past dating experiences with your date, unless it truly applies in the moment of conversation. Think logically on this matter- What does talking about other women have to do with getting to know the person you are on a date with?

5. Keep the Ants in Your Pants. Never become intimate on the first date. Give the relationship time to grow before taking a leap in the bedroom.
 
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