Is there really only one Mr. or Ms. Right for us?

Many people swear by the notion that there is only have one person in the world whom we can call our "soulmate."

In their view, destiny has picked out one individual who complements them on myriad levels -- physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually -- like no one else. And the ones lucky enough to be in long-term relationships, not surprisingly, say they're confident their partner is their other half.

But is this really true? Can only one person in this entire world -- mind you, there are 7.6 billion human beings living on this planet -- be ideally suited for us?

While I would love to believe that life plays out like a fairy tale, I can't subscribe to the idea that we couldn't click and carry on successful relationships with several people -- whether we live in London or Las Vegas.

Instead, I believe that we can have varying degrees of compatibility with different people, and it's up to us to decide which differences are too much to bear.

For example, I might feel drawn to Susan for her sweet personality, bookish bent, and penchant for hard work. However, I might not be crazy about the fact that she drinks and smokes (which I don't do).

Then there's Katie. I may find myself attracted to her because she has beautiful blue eyes and a radiant smile, not to mention she is a big baseball like I am. But the downside might be that she holds fierce opposing political views.

Could I not have a fruitful relationship with either Katie or Susan? As long as I am willing to overlook what I perceive as negatives (or they find a way to meet me in the middle), the answer is yes.

There are always going to be things we don't like about our partner. We may deem them to be nearly perfect, but there's always going to be something about them -- a pet peeve, if you will -- that gets under our skin.

Of course, people's personalities, hobbies, and views are not the only predictors of a successful relationship. It also depends on each person's willingness to invest the time and energy needed to make it work.

We all know someone who, after getting divorced, has gone on to find long-lasting love. Does this mean the second person was the true soulmate and not the first?

Not necessarily. It might mean that the first person was a fantastic match -- possibly even better than the second individual -- but circumstances (sometimes outside their control, like having to move permanently for a job) convinced both people that the marriage just wasn't going to work.

There's a difference between having the chemistry to forge a great relationship, and having the willingness to keep it strong.

To put it in a different context: If someone were to start slacking off at work, they could very easily get fired. It would be very convenient to turn around and say, "Well, it wasn't meant to be." But maybe it was the best job that person has had up to this point, and they may never find a better one in the future. Her indisposition toward attending to her duties led to the unfortunate end, but it doesn't mean she was ill-suited for the job.

And sometimes it takes a few relationships to realize exactly what it is we want in a partner. For example, now that you've been with your boyfriend for 2 years, you might be relieved your last relationship -- a tumultuous one at that -- didn't work out. Or, you may concede that you're not nearly as compatible with your current girlfriend as you were with your ex.

In sum, several people in the world can fill the role of Mr. or Ms. Right, and we will probably never cross paths with most of them (much like possible candidates for a job). We can only hope that the person we ultimately choose is among those with whom a blissful future is a sure bet.

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

Men prefer to marry brunettes

Study after study shows that men prefer blondes as girlfriends or mistresses and brunettes as wives . It seems many men see brunettes as more trustworthy and loyal. What's more, even though participants claimed that blondes are better in bed, they feel brunettes are better kissers and more affectionate than blondes. I find these results to be rather interesting. In my high school and early college days, I actually had a preference for blondes myself -- that is, until I hooked up with my now-wife. From that point on, I deemed brunettes as more attractive and marriage material, probably because they reminded me of and more closely resembled her. I think we can blame Hollywood, shows like Baywatch, and Playboy for painting blondes as wild, big chested, promiscuous and loose. (Yes, I know that there are brunettes in Playboy, but they seem to be in the minority.) When someone tells a man to think of an attractive blonde, who do you think likely crosses his mind? More likely than...

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