Men, Women, and Valentines.

It’s Valentine’s Day today and I’m thinking of men and women and how we get along. Or don’t get along.

On Dr. Phil’s show yesterday about romance, he revealed the results of a poll he had given, asking what men and women wanted for Valentine’s day. 86% of men and 6% of the women wanted sex. 80% of the women and 7% of the men wanted to be taken out for a romantic evening the mate had planned. He had some couples on the show, asking how to rekindle romance in their lives. The women said that they think it’s an act of love when the men take out the trash and the men think it’s a duty they can postpone or avoid. These are serious differences, don’t ya think?

It reminds me of a joke a girlfriend sent me recently. The married couple was spending some time together running errands, but the woman thought the guy was being rather distant. She spent the rest of the day obsessing about what could be wrong, that maybe he didn’t like her or find her attractive anymore, that he was probably trying to get up the courage to leave her. She wondered how she could make him want her again and whatever had she done wrong. She went on and on and on, finally deciding to seduce him in bed that night. What did the guy say to himself about their day together? “Too bad my motorcycle didn’t start, but at least I got laid.” We are SO different!

One of my favorite blogs is Adventures in Delicious Dating After Forty (http://www.datinggoddess.com/) In a post titled “Sweetie-less for Valentine’s Day” she asks us to remind ourselves that we are a terrific catch, to list the reasons why, and to treat ourselves as our own Valentine. She writes to Do for yourself what makes you feel loved. Do something you like to do that you don’t do very often: draw a warm bath, play favorite music, light candles and relax. Or order take out, get in your jammies early and snuggle down with a DVD. Or turn up the stereo and dance to your favorite music. Indulge and enjoy what you love to do. She says to meet up with gal pals, get a manicure and pedicure or massage, and show our appreciation to those we love, that we have the steady love of ourselves and not to take it for granted!

So that’s my wish for you and me, that we remember how unique and special we are, that we stop and notice all the people who love us and think about why, and that we remind ourselves that being here and loving others makes the world a better place.