Let's Talk Commitment (Page 5)

Dating someone who is not committed to you can be extremely challenging. You may feel chemistry, or even love, but it takes more than that if a relationship is going to stand the test of time. A man who isn’t committed to your relationship will often give various signs that he’s not in it seriously or for the long haul. He may see your relationship as something to participate in as he pleases, but this isn’t being...

The best wedding photographers understand the importance of your big day and are great to capture every beautiful moment. Your wedding day features the full spectrum of emotions the human body is capable of — from the private well-wishings from dear friends to the much-anticipated, take-your-breath-away kiss. Visually, internally, there's a lot to take in, and each memory is one you want never to forget. There to...

How long do you date before making it official? This is a very interesting question because it does not have just one right or wrong answer. It really depends on the emotions of both parties. Relationships develop between both partners at different speeds, so there is no way to give you an answer on how long it can take. People do not necessarily fall in love at the same exact time. Often one falls much quicker...

Every couple must negotiate their relationship contract in regards to monogamy. This usually entails discussing one’s values about sex and fidelity. For some gay couples, strict faithfulness is the norm. For others, an open relationship has been adopted in which playing with others has been permitted — this usually comes with its own set of ground rules for various aspects of this agreement. One such scenario some...

There was chemistry, attraction and a few fireworks. You made out in the parking lot so long you lost track of time. You drove home all tingly and lit up. You thought she’s fabulous, sexy and hot, and you love how she kisses. You’re pretty sure this one has staying power because WOW that was so great. She told you she thought you were great, fun and amazing. She loved your lips… and on and on. Now there’s no...

Is the guy I’m dating my new boyfriend? How do I know? As a personal matchmaker, having orchestrated thousands of introductions, I get this question often, from both the guy and the girl. The first few dates have gone really well. You’re having fun together. You’re settling into a groove, but you don’t really know how to define this new “thing” you’ve got going on. Here’s how to know if you’ve got yourself a...

TL;DR: Having researched women’s studies and psychology since 1991, University of Michigan Associate Professor Terri Conley, Ph.D., is a leader in the field and has dedicated her life to examining these topics in new ways, particularly monogamy. Dr. Terri Conley’s love for psychology and women’s studies started at a young age. Growing up in a small Indiana town with a closeted lesbian mother, she saw firsthand...

It can be difficult to find good sources of information on open relationships and nonmonogamy. That's why we've compiled these books. They aren't just good sources - they're the best. Opening Up BEST OF Bragging Rights: 4.7-star Amazon rating In-depth interviews with more than 100 people help...

Life is all about development, evolution and progression, and as we go through this maturation process, there are often typical stages we experience as we continue to grow. For example, you will likely recall you went through certain stages and phases of identity development as you came out to yourself as a gay man and started to come to terms with your sexuality. Here is an article about the well-known “Cass...

Is Tinder a mobile dating app for singles or a social media app for those who are already attached? With more than 10 million matches a day and more than 800 million swipes a day, people are swiping like crazy on the hottest mobile dating app. However, it’s not uncommon to see couples still keep their Tinder profiles active, even after they’ve decided to date exclusively. So the question I’m posing is... Is Tinder...

There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t find myself in a discussion in my counseling sessions that consists of someone looking for a little dating advice. After all, if there’s one thing just about all of us can agree on, it’s that love is an important part of our life’s journey and being in a strong, secure and stable relationship can definitely make the trip that much more special. Yet while sitting in...

It’s 2014 and guess what? The fact remains approximately one-half of all marriages still end in divorce. That’s always a startling number and definitely causes many to evaluate their thinking when hiking and stumbling through the dating world. However, what do you do if you meet someone you really believe is The One? The only catch or source for concern is they’ve been married before - several times. Let me share...

Are you predisposed to get married soon and perhaps you just don’t know it yet? New research from the University of Miami is exploring the predictors that indicate if someone is likely to get married in the next few years, whether or not that person intends to do so or not. Gathering data from more than 9,000 young people, the research team assessed each participant based on a number of criteria. These included...

A wedding day isn’t entirely for the ladies, which means grooms need resources, too. That’s why our 10 Best Blogs for Grooms were selected, for their fashionable and functional styles to make his special day also one to remember. I Am Staggered BEST OF Bragging Rights: upbeat and irreverent I Am...

Everyone wants and desires love in their lives. It’s natural and part of what makes us all human - edgy feelings when you connect with another, making your heart skip in those crazy, irresistible beats. However, for some it doesn’t mean running to the jewelers, racing inside a church or shopping for furniture together at Crate & Barrel. Many are content searching for and finding love as it comes and don’t...

Most people who are looking for love would be wise to cast a wide net. It's a good idea to look beyond your own religion — if religion isn’t on your deal-breaker list (if you don’t have one, grab a pencil!) But that means you may be spending this spring celebrating a different religious holiday with your new boyfriend. It’s important to know how to behave when you’re with someone who has a different religion than...

Are things getting serious between you and your senior mate? Once you start to get the feeling that your boomer date might just be the one for you, it’s time to consider how long you two need to wait before saying, “I do!” Most senior singles have been married at least once before. Also, as a demographic, many boomers have invested in themselves and their personal growth over the years. They possess a much better...

There are a lot of reasons why a guy won’t call you his girlfriend. Although most intelligent and sensible guys wouldn’t have any problem doing it, especially if it’s what you want, other guys who have some issues might feel differently. This entire article will focus on the mentality of such men and what you can do to make a change. He won’t call you his girlfriend after a month. I would assume he’s enjoying the...

I don’t believe we just fall out of love. Sorry if you disagree, but love is not like a top 40 song that you get sick of with more and more exposure. “So then why do we fall out of love, Mr. Smarty-Pants,” you may be asking, “since it appears to happen all the time?” First, those are culottes to be precise, not smarty-pants. Second, all too often we haven’t fallen out of love because we haven’t fallen in love in...

Being a great husband takes a variety of skills, from friend and compatriot, to lover and life partner. We selected our 10 Best Blogs for Husbands based on the quality of their content and the help they offer men who want to make the most of their family, career, lifestyle and more. The Good Men...

Many stereotypes and generalizations portray men as all about sex and fearful of commitment, but are all men really scared of commitment? The short answer is no.  The long answer is a little more complicated, involving several individual factors, such as a man’s personal, career and relationship goals, maturity, emotional readiness and timing. As relationships grow into potential long-term commitment, fears,...

First of all, really ask yourself if you are ready to be in an involved, committed and monogamous relationship. Sometimes self-honesty is your best remedy for a lot of things applicable for most life choices. If you aren’t, no offense but don’t waste your other dater’s time if they are under the assumption that you are. I’ve wasted a lot of time with men who gave me that illusion - being in a long-term...

There are many similarities between romantic relationships and physical activity. Below are just five of the ways we would all be better off if we treated our relationship like we would a gym membership. 1. Deciding when to begin Maybe you haven’t worked out in a while. Maybe some holiday is coming up that sparks your desire. Wanting to get in better shape before that summer vacation? Perhaps you consider your age...

For those of you who recently came out of the closet, this post is for you. Openly declaring that you are gay takes nothing less than an act of courage, and I applaud you for taking such a bold step to declare the truth about yourself and to choose to live an authentic life. You are probably feeling a mixture of emotions, both excited and nervous as you get ready to explore your identity as a gay man in the gay...

Reader Question: I've been with my boyfriend for about a month. I'm 18 and he's 20. I do truly love him, but I guess he's having doubts because he's leaving for nine months for deployment. In his past relationships when he went overseas, they forgot about him and moved on. He sent me this message saying he doesn't want me to wait for him. I struggle with him not being able to text back when he's working, so...

Many single men over 50 have confided in me as a dating coach that they just want to be lazy when it comes to dating, courting and romance now that they’re older. Sure, their hormones aren't wired the same way as their 20-something counterparts, but a mature man who has found his lady love still does make an effort and pursues her. If that baby boomer guy you just started seeing is asking you to become exclusive...

The importance of cohabitation has been long been recognized for helping couples weather rough patches later on in marriage. However, most studies have only focused on how various living arrangements prior to marriage effect the length of a relationship over a few years. New research out of Ohio State University is extending those parameters by looking at couples who have been together for considerably longer, up...

Are you in your 30s and getting tired of the dating scene? Are you dating to find The One? Do you want to settle down already? I hit 30 and was committed to finding my life partner. I was tired of dating. I wanted the commitment, a person I could lean on and experience life with, and I was frustrated about not finding The One. I enjoyed my dating life, but I was ready to settle down. It was Memorial Day weekend and...

Reader Question: I met this girl at a show a couple of months ago. She said she had just gotten out of a relationship and wasn't ready for one, which was fine at the time. Two months later...we have sex often. We act like we're a couple. Everything seems to be going perfectly. I brought up the subject and she tells me she is still not ready for a serious relationship. We ended up in a slight argument about why...