Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.” Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots. She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.
What do you look for in a mate? Check out the common things both men and women seek...
When I was in high school, I, like many others, had my heart broken. And like many teenage girls, I cried countless tears, finding comfort in my own misery. I wish I had known the pettiness of an immature broken heart would pass; however, it was what it was…inevitable pain.In the midst of it all, I turned to my 25 “older sisters” I worked with at a hair salon. They always seemed to comfort me, but one girl in-particular had a weird way of making me feel OK. She was the epitome of tough love, and I could still hear her voice telling me to stop crying and make a list of everything I wanted in a guy. I took her 2-cents pretty seriously, creating my written description of my perfect fit. It was one of the smartest things I ever did, because years later, my ideal man magically appeared in my life.
And it turns out, girls aren’t the only ones looking for specifics. According to Yahoo!, love is universal when it comes to the top ten things guys and gals look for in a partner.
So here it goes…
The #1 thing both sexes seek is confidence. There’s nothing sexier than an ambitiously bold man—someone who walks tall with his head high. And guys feel the same. Apparently, they’re after a go-getter gal as well, someone who radiates passion for what they do. Of course, confidence walks a fine line with being pompous, so be aware of your demeanor.
Next is a sense of humor. Face it, we all love to laugh. One of the best things about my fiancé(!!) is we could be in a heated conversation, look at one another, and start laughing. Finding fun in one another makes the relationship shine for both men and women—it’ll brighten even a bad day.
So is tall, dark, and handsome on your list? Well, according to Yahoo!, looks are important—duh. Obviously not everyone is attracted to the same thing, but most people respond to how a person presents him or herself. Putting a little TLC into your body and style-sense can go a long way…there’s just something special about “looking right” with the right person.
In relation, the #4 thing girls and guys want is good sex, and good means simply enjoying sex. Men and women crave physical action for a lot of reasons…it’s emotional, brings people together, and is an awesome stress reliever. It’s suggested you just let loose with your counterpart—having fun, getting creative, and not worrying too much.
The #5 thing we all undoubtedly want is acceptance. Everyone wants one person to love them unconditionally, without judging or wanting to change the person they are. Feeling we are accepted is one of our main motivations for wanting a relationship in the first place. To love someone is to accept someone, so let your guard down.
And here’s a biggy: communication. I think we can all agree a drama-free life is a happy life, so it’s important both parties learn simple communication skills. Both men and women yearn to freely express their feelings to their partner without picking a fight.
Ok, here’s one those in long-term relationships need to keep in mind--#7: challenge. While being comfortable (and vulnerable) with someone is great, monotony gets boring. Experts suggest getting creative with keeping the spark alive, as well as having some occasional solo-time to give one another a chance to individually re-boot.
And in this economy, #8 can be tough…we all want financial security in a partner. While this is, in many cases, not necessarily a deal breaker, both sexes want someone monetarily responsible. Little steps to getting on track tends to go a long way.
The #9 thing we all want is similar taste. Yep, it’s nice to have similarities whether it be hobbies, beliefs, cleanliness (or lack thereof), or simply what you like to eat. Taste is key because it indicates the quality of life you’ll have with any given person.
And last but not least…drum-roll please: chemistry. This, by far, is so very important; it’s the cosmic force that draws you to a potential husband or wife. All we can do is simply seek it and know it’s there when you meet your match.
