Every woman has a different level of self-discipline but if you’re used to getting laid regularly stopping cold turkey may not be that easy initially. However, celibacy can be done successfully and here a few of my personal suggestions for how to avoid doing the do.

1. Develop a strong relationship with God and with people of a like mind.
Abstaining from sex is not easy. You cannot get through this without strong faith and friends who are traveling on the same road who can encourage you along the way. Read your Bible every day, pray and spend time regularly with Christian friends who understand what you have chosen to do and won’t waste your time telling you how crazy you are for abstaining.

2. Be mindful of your senses.
We live in a sex laden society. It’s in the music, the movies, our favorite TV shows, the books we read..you get the picture. If those things make you want to have sex you may need to find other forms of entertainment or be more selective. Also, watch your speech. Having constant conversations about sex or sexting will only make you want to participate.

3. Get physical!
Having a great way to burn off energy can help your body get used to the adjustment you are making as well as burn off the pent up sexual energy. Select a workout regiment or sport you enjoy and do it regularly. Go hard!

4. Date wisely.
I don’t recommend telling every man you meet you’re celibate during your first conversation. If his intentions are honorable he won’t try to have sex with you too soon anyway. So, it won’t be a big deal initially. If it’s obvious that’s what he wants why entertain his advances. Stick to men who act like they are more interested in what’s on the inside than what’s on the outside. Yet, you will have to tell him as the courtship progresses and he will have to determine whether or not he can handle your decision.
Dating men who constantly attempt to get you to have sex is just dumb. If he can't respect your decision tell him to kick rocks with no socks!

3. Don’t prepare for dates or outings to entice.
We all want to look good when we go out but if your goal is not to have sex why entice the opposite sex by dressing provocatively. Plunging neck lines, short skirts and skin tight material does not say hands off.  You don’t have to dress like a nun but dressing like a video vixen is a no, no. It can also send mixed signals not only to your date but to yourself. Even wearing your sexiest lingerie “just in case” subconsciously says to your mind and body let's get it on. Wearing less than impressive undies can also be a mental stop sign. You’re not so quick to come out your clothes if you think those period panties or bloomers and the bra with the raggedy straps and worn out cups will embarrass you. I know it sounds crazy but it works!

4. Put the breaks on affection.
We all want to feel wanted but pushing the envelope will only frustrate you and your companion.  Constant groping, long kissing sessions, lying next to one another naked and engaging in other forms of sex will not help you achieve your goals. What fun is getting all hot and bothered and then having to cool off quickly? You know what turns you on so you also know what will send you over the edge.

5. Plan outside dates and avoid late nights.
Sex usually occurs when two people are alone so it’s important to plan outside activities on your dates with other people present to help alleviate the temptation. Have fun: double-date, go to the park, a concert, go to a café and talk. This allows you to really get to know a person and lay a strong foundation of friendship. The best relationships are built on a solid friendship. Now, alone time and romantic evenings can be tricky but if the two of you set some boundaries you can have a great time enjoying one another with your clothes on. You may want to put an embargo on midnight movie nights at the house though. Usually, the later it is the more tempted you will be to get physical.

6. Don’t treat this like a prison sentence.
Not having sex isn’t the end of the world. Enjoy this time or don’t do it. You made this decision because you felt it was the right thing to do. If you’re going to complain the entire time and stress about how horny you are don’t do it. Abstaining from sex is a time of self-reflection, spiritual enlightenment and Godly purpose. You won’t experience any of that if you are miserable and constantly brooding over the fact that you aren’t getting any. If you are going to give God you, be a cheerful giver.


Find more blogs by Jae Henderson at My Side of the Single Life, http://imagoodwoman2.blogspot.com. You can also purchase my book, Someday here, http://www.amazon.com/shops/jaehenderson.

 
 
Happy: At state of well-being and contentment; pleasurable satisfaction

I often wonder how many of us truly know what it means to be happy. In this superficial world we live in we associate happiness with houses, cars, clothes and other items that can be bought in a store. Some people spend their entire lives working to achieve things. Then, when they get them they still aren’t happy---at least not long term. You want to know why? It has been proven through research that things only bring temporary happiness.  That euphoric feeling you have after purchasing that fast car, those new red bottom shoes or 60 inch flat screen TV eventually fades after you get used to having them. In his book, “Happy: Simple Steps to Getting the Most Out of Life,” Dr. Ian Smith shares what brings true happiness. It includes:
  • Family, friends and social companionship
  • Helping others
  • Appreciating what you have and not feeling wistful about what you don’t have
  • Pursuing a passion
  • Taking pride in one’s work
  • Forgiving someone for an offense and moving on
  • Not trying to keep up with the Jones
You didn’t see Gucci, Louie, Prada or Christian Louboutin on that list anywhere did you? Of course being financially stable can contribute to your happiness but a millionaire will tell you that his money would mean nothing without the people who mean the most to him or her to share it with. Think about it this way. What if I gave you an unlimited amount of money to throw yourself a birthday party? It’s everything you ever dreamed except for one problem. No one showed up to help you celebrate. The expensive venue with the decorations you had done by the best event planner in the country, who spared no expense on everything you asked for, really wouldn’t matter would it?  There’s no one to hug you and tell you happy birthday. There are no people there to toast to the day you were born. There’s no one to tell you how fly you look in your designer outfit. There is no one to get your boogie on with on the dance floor. And there’s no one to sing you happy birthday before you blow out the candles on your huge, overpriced cake. You got everything you wanted, but I’m sure you would deem your party a flop. You would probably leave feeling unwanted and unloved. Am I right?

I’ll trade temporary happiness for a lifetime of happiness any day. So each day I’m working to achieve the things on that list--what really matters. So I can stay on the right side of happiness.  


Find more blogs by Jae Henderson at My Side of the Single Life, http://imagoodwoman2.blogspot.com. You can also purchase my book, Someday here, http://www.amazon.com/shops/jaehenderson.

 
 
It’s fall and Facebook is a buzz with posts about boo season and how it’s the time to find someone to keep you warm during the winter months. I guess this isn’t a new concept.  But it seems odd to give it a name and a brand. Call me green but I never thought people would actually seek out someone just for this time of year, but it’s understandable. No one wants to spend Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve alone. I can see how an extra gift under the Christmas tree and someone to kiss when the clock strikes midnight to signify a new year would be appealing. Let’s not forget Valentine’s Day. That highly commercialized day when people are supposed to flock to the stores and spend obscene amounts of money to prove their love for the object of their affections. No woman wants to admit she didn’t get a thing because she had no one to give her anything.

But why do people treat being single like it’s an incurable venereal disease. With the alarming rate of divorces, the staggering number of illegitimate babies being born each year, the escalation of HIV in the African American community and people who change significant others like they change underwear I think it’s safe to say that some people may have been better off alone at certain periods in their lives. For them having a boo, even if it was for just one night, probably didn’t turn out the way they thought it would.

Right now, I’m cool with being single but I know there will come a time when I’ll long for constant companionship. Human beings are not meant to be alone, but I don’t believe having a man just for the sake of having a man would be wise, at least not for me. I’m almost certain it would end in heart ache and pain. Although, it might reduce my urge to change the station when that depressing song “What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas?” escapes my speakers or stay inside my home when V-Day rolls around. I used to say if I ever met Cupid I would tear off his wings, break all his arrows and pour ice in his diaper. Then would follow a painful interrogation period about why he hasn’t hit someone with his arrows on my behalf. (LOL) But back to boo season….what happens when spring hits, the weather improves, we all escape our winter lairs with less clothes and less inhibitions. More than likely the man I thought loved me will reveal that he wants to be free to explore other options but his time with me has been fun. Boo season all of a sudden turns into boo hoo season and I will have to come to grips with the fact that I allowed myself to be used. I think I’ll boycott boo season. Instead, if I start to get lonely I’ll….hell I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ll figure that out when it happens. To those of you who choose to participate, I wish you good luck and warm nights accompanied by a great game of footsie.

Whoever started boo season needs to go see a psychiatrist. It’s obvious they have a co-dependency issue. (-:

Find more blogs by Jae Henderson at My Side of the Single Life, http://imagoodwoman2.blogspot.com. You can also purchase my book, Someday here, http://www.amazon.com/shops/jaehenderson.

 

 
 
I’m 33, single and loving life. At this age I’m too old to be gullible and too young to be bitter about still being single. However, in order to recognize love when it comes your way you have to know what those four letters are and what they are not. Therefore, in this blog I’m examining the L word. Actions speak louder than words. I’ve heard “I love you” several times and it always sounds good, but if there are no actions to back it up then the brotha’ might as well have saved that breath for future oxygen intake. The best example of love in action can be found in one of my favorite books---The Bible. If you ever want to know if someone truly loves you give them the 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 test. It always works for me.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails.

In other words, if he rarely gives you compliments, buys you gifts or does the things he knows you like "just because" and on special occasions, if he is regularly mean/rude to you, is jealous of you and what God has blessed you with or is unsupportive, if he thinks he’s all that and you should be happy to be in his conceited presence because he’s doing you a favor, if he always puts himself before you and just expects you to deal with it, if he seems pleased when bad things come your way and can’t wait to say “I told you so” or he’s always bringing up old stuff that the two of you supposedly moved past, if he doesn’t seem concerned for your safety or he never believes what you say and at the slightest sign of trouble he wants to bounce----he or she DOES NOT LOVE YOU! (Yes, I know that is a long sentence.) At that point you should really examine your future with that individual.

Now don’t get me wrong, we all have our flaws and the special someone in our lives may unintentionally exhibit some of these ugly traits. The question is if those flaws are pointed out is that individual willing to work on them in order to become a better mate for you? If not, you may not be getting the LOVE you deserve. I believe LOVE is something we all need in order to reach our full potential. However, you must also measure yourself by the same standard. Are you loving the one you're with the way you're supposed to?