Most of us seem to engage in linear thinking when mulling over how we think our lives will play out. We presume we'll work until our mid to late 60s, retire, and then live another 20 to 30 years. In the meantime, we try to "live life to the fullest" by staying as busy as we possibly can -- doing everything from traveling to having more kids to working multiple jobs. The fact is, none of us really know how long we'll be on this earth. We'd all like to think we'll live to be 90 or 100, but none of us can see into the future to know for sure. Without getting too morbid here, I'd like to go straight to my central point in this post: Is a good life necessarily one where you're so busy that you can't even stop to enjoy the music? How many people do you know who still stay home on the weekends just watching movies or reading books? Do you know anyone who actually does his or her best to slow it down as opposed to getting caught up doing a million...

Most of us have been there at some point or another: You're in a relationship with someone, head over heels in love and convinced you have the makings of a fruitful marriage. Then, one day the two of you have a misunderstanding of some sort or an intense argument that either spells the end of the relationship or serves as the first of many spats to come. In the latter case, the relationship gets weaker and weaker over time until it becomes apparent that it has eroded into nothing. Naturally, we're going to feel unhappy, depressed, even lost for some time after the breakup. Some find it very hard to cope with the reality that the person they thought they might be with for the rest of their life is out of the picture for good. But it doesn't all have to be gloom and doom. What follows are three fantastic tips that will help you get back on your feet. Even if you've never  had to deal with a breakup, you'll want to read these tips should you ever find yourself in t...

Ask any guy what kind of woman he ultimately wants to settle down with, and he'll probably tell you that he wants "a lady in the street and a freak in the bed." In other words, he wants someone worth taking home to mom, but who can let loose once both people are behind closed doors. Many men go through a stage in their lives where they aim to hump anything that moves and loath commitment of any sort. The women they generally gravitate toward in this phase are those commonly classified as "easy." Once they're finally ready to commit, though, they seek women unlike those they fooled around with. Now the name of the game becomes finding someone with a relatively uneventful sexual history who they can see as being the mother of their kids. Thus, they want a woman who can be a lady in public: one who is polite, well-mannered, well-spoken, and respectful. Once they're in bed, though, they yearn for the complete opposite: a woman who is evocative of t...

Hi everyone, I launched "How to Understand People" at the end of July 2014. In such a short period of time, the number of people following the blog has already surpassed 1,000! With your support, though, that count can easily grow to 5,000 members before year's end. I ask that you please share the blog with your friends on Google +, Facebook, Twitter, and other sites on which you and they are active. The more people we have weighing in on the many topics discussed here -- from relationships to spending -- the livelier the discussion. I want to thank all of you for your contributions to the blog -- from giving one another advice to sharing individual posts with friends. You make all the hard work I put into it so worth it. Again, please be sure to pass this link along:  How to Understand People Kind Regards, Jeff Writer and Webmaster

There are myriad ways for men to set a romantic mood. Among these -- which, by the way, stands as my personal favorite -- is taking his lady to a nice restaurant that combines delectable food, soft music, and first-rate service with a relaxed atmosphere and unobstructed water views. A nice, candlelight dinner isn't always easy on the wallet, but it's worth it to spring for this kind of experience at least once in a while. To me, this is the single best way to set a romantic tone. What do you ladies think? Do you agree it makes for the perfect romantic evening? Please share with your friends and check out earlier entries here:  How to Understand People

Which gender would you say is more likely to forgive cheating? Men or women? According to a study I read about just the other day, it all depends on the type of cheating. Whereas men are less likely to forgive cheating of a sexual nature, women are less willing to forgive emotional cheating . In a way, these findings should come as no surprise to us. The research supports what many of us have been hearing for a really long time: That men are physical creatures and thus more interested in sex, and women are emotional ones. We've all seen movies where a woman catches her boyfriend sleeping with someone else. After much crying and bickering, the woman takes her cheating boyfriend back for one simple reason: He manages to convince her that he doesn't love the other woman. Now firmly believing that her boyfriend only has feelings for her, she reasons there must be a legitimate reason why he had intercourse with the other woman. A lot of thoughts begin to run through her h...

Two of my female friends have confided to me a key reason why they wear perfume: to attract men. It's something I suspected all along, but women I have spoken to in the past have denied using perfume to reel in men. I suppose it's one of those "some do, some don't," scenarios, but my guess is that women who are intent on making a lasting impression on a man -- particularly one they're very attracted to -- will have perfume as a tool in her arsenal. Men do this all the time. When I was single, I would nearly bathe myself in cologne and received no shortage of compliments. Still, cologne alone doesn't make someone attractive to the opposite sex; factors like being clean and well-dressed also factor into the equation. However, when one is drawn to a pleasant scent, he or she will immediately try to locate the source. If that source happens to be you, you just might go up a few notches in that person's attractiveness scale. Picture this scenario:...

Quote of the Day - How to Understand People Today's quote comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), an American lecturer, poet, and essayist who championed individualism and played a central role in the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Even though Emerson lived in the 1800s, I feel this quote is still quite relevant in today's world. When he says "the world," he is really referring to society as a whole, which often pressures us to live up to certain expectations. There's always going to be something about you that people take issue with. This might include the fact you're: A virgin Not into drinking, smoking, drugs, or other substances Not married Child-free (and may never plan to have any children) Shy or introverted In a non-traditional, low-paying field (teaching, etc.) Of a...

Many women admit to having been drawn to bad boys in their youth. They claim that they found their hyper-masculinity and self-confidence almost irresistible. Unfortunately, nice guys with good intentions were kicked to the curb, left scratching their heads over what they did wrong. These same women say that they outgrew this phase as the desire for marriage, children, and overall stability crept in. So here's the central question: Do women truly get over this love of bad boys, even when they're older? I think that women eventually stop pursuing such men, but that doesn't mean they don't want to see a little "bad boy" in their partners at least once in a while. In my view, women want their men to have some of the qualities commonly associated with bad boys, such as: Self-confidence Standing up for what he believes in, even if that means arguing to prove his point Getting fired up for a cause about which he's passionate Being aggressive and tak...