Dating Fun

If you think you have to lose 20 pounds, go blonde, or get a nose job
before you attract the man of your dreams, you're dead wrong.

Here's an assignment. Check out the wedding pages of your newspaper
this weekend. Do any of the brides look like cover girls?

Look closely. Sure, there may be a couple of model types among them,
but most of the women are average looking. Some of them resemble Phil
Spector, for Pete's sake. What do they have that you don't?

Nothing.

Please do not fall into the trap of believing that you have to achieve
a certain look to attract good, marriage-minded men. Whatever you do,
do not size yourself up against other women.

Walk into every room with the knowledge that, whatever you look like,
you're a winner. You have much to offer a man.

I can remember two separate occasions when I was interested in a great
looking guy (who I later found out returned my interest) but figured I
didn't have a chance because I had a little squish around the middle.
Guess what? Both guys ended up with women with at least 20 pounds on
me, and years later, remain happily married to them.

I'm not suggesting you start pigging out on fast food and roaming the
planet in a sweatsuit. And, certainly, you should practice basic
hygiene. But obsession about your looks is an entirely different thing, and
it's not attractive.

Sure, it's great to be the prettiest girl in the room, but you never
want to attract the type of man who wants the prettiest girl in the room!You want a man who wants you for you, not for your white teeth, tapered
nose, or tight hamstrings. You want a man who'll love you now and will
love you three weeks after you give birth, despite stretch marks.

It's better to be less attractive when you meet the man of your dreams
than after you marry him. But, instead, most women look great while
they're casting their nets for a husband, and then let themselves go after
they catch him (men are guilty of this, too).

Do it the other way around. After the wedding, reward your guy for
having the good taste to marry you by keeping up your looks. By all means,
encourage him to do the same for you.

In the meantime, focus on your good qualities. Explore your hobbies and
interests, all the things that make you special. Go out into the
world with your shoulders held back. You are a wonder of the world, and
some man will be very lucky to have you.

Trust him to know that when he sees you.

Terry Hernon MacDonald is the happily married author of "How to Attract and Marry the Man of Your Dreams." Visit her website at http://www.marrysmart.com. Nightowls all over the universe can tune into her radio show, "Romance Talk with Terry," at 11PM/PST Friday at http://www.healthylife.nett