Don't hold out for perfect relationships because you'll only be disappointed. So many people sabotage their chances at love because they place their loved one and/or their relationship on a pedestal.

Until you change your definition of what perfect is you are doomed to failure again and again. You will also cause yourself and anyone you enter into a relationship with, a lot of pain.

No one is perfect, but someone can be perfect for you. There is a difference. The sooner you can make that distinction the sooner you'll have a real shot at having a great, loving relationship.

To get a better idea of what someone who is perfect for you would like, I've compiled a list of some of the most commonly desired traits in a partner. Of course your ideas could be different but these traits are fairly common and they provide a good place to start in examining what you consider perfect.

1.Understanding:

People are comfortable with someone who 'gets' them. If you sing in the shower, like weird food combination's, or just like to act goofy sometimes, you'll want a partner who can play along with you.

Everyone has their own little quirks and your perfect partner will, at the minimum, accept those quirks without making fun of you and at best will have the same or similar quirks. You won't want someone who will roll their eyes or ridicule you whenever you do these things. They should love you, and accept you, just as you are.

2. Good self esteem:

One of the biggest problems I see in relationships is when one party is insecure. This insecurity is often hidden and it can come across as many other things. Very often someone who is overly sexual or overly aggressive is actually just trying to compensate for and cover up a very strong sense of insecurity.

As you get to know someone keep a close eye out for their actions, this will tell you a lot. For example, how do they react when something embarrassing happens? Do they get angry, defensive? Do they lash out at you, this should be a huge, huge, red flag. Or do they laugh and shrug and go along with it good naturedly. If they do the latter it probably means that they are a secure confidant person, and that is a trait you want to look for in a partner.

3. Outlook:

Do they share similar views on things that are important to you? You don't have to agree on everything. It's possible some relationships can thrive even if both parties are very different in many of their views; though it will only work if both parties are mature and secure and don't feel threatened that the other one doesn't agree with them on various issues.

For the most part though, it will work better if you and your potential partner have a common ground on the main issues, your core beliefs. If you value honesty and fidelity, for example, you won't be happy with someone who lies and cheats.

Believe it or not, it's actually pretty easy to find perfect relationships, or at least perfect for you. The problem is that people see what they want to see and not what is really there. I know it can be hard, especially in the beginning, but it's important for the long term health and happiness of the relationship that you take off the blinders and see your partner as they really are, not as you want them to be.

Men, internet dating advice isn't hard to come by. Whether you're just getting started in the modern online dating scene or you want to brush up some rusty skills, here are some tips that can help you out.

Your main way of interacting on the internet will be through email. For those of you who aren't used to relating this way, you need to realize that much more thought and effort needs to be put into and email than say a phone conversation, for example. This is because what is read on the other end could be interpreted completely differently than what you intended.

So make sure you are clear and consise, not confusing. Also, when corresponding by email, don't go on and on and on about yourself and your life story. This is a big turn-off.

Instead, keep your emails short and ask her a lot of questions about herself. If she asks you a question, answer it briefly. The truth of the matter is, women want to do all of the talking (writing). And they want you to do the listening (reading).

A good rule of thumb is to keep all your e-mail replies less than three sentences long. Use the first two sentences to answer a question and the last sentence to ask her a question. If she hasn't asked you anything, just write a one-line question. Asking questions keeps your discussion going and shows her that you are thoughtful and interested.

Also, don't send too many email messages or instant messages. This only shows a woman that you have nothing better to do and makes you appear needy.

Another important rule to keep in mind is to stay away from any sex talk. . .unless she brings it up. And even then, don't go overboard. She may be testing you so feel out the situation before responding.

And perhaps the hardest men internet dating advice to follow is don't lie to impress a woman. It's tempting at first because you don't know these women and they aren't sitting right in front of you. That makes it extremely easy to beef yourself up a little bit. But what if you end up really liking a woman that you've been dating for a while and you'd like to get serious with her? Those lies will eventually catch up with you.

Finally, try not to get involved with too many women at one time. Although that situation may seem ideal to you now, it may backfire. You'll end up mixing up conversations, calling women by the wrong name and generally just gaining a bad reputation. So, when you do get a lot of replies to your personal ad, be very choosy about who you answer back.

Hopefully this men internet dating advice about how to communicate by email will help you in your online dating endeavors.

There are a lot of really tall women out there. And there are a lot of not-so-tall men who are attracted by them. But many feel that men dating taller women is an impossibility. Here are some tips for you shorter guys that can prove this wrong.

1. Don't make it an issue. Maybe you've tried approaching taller women before only to be shunned or laughed at. Maybe you've never even tried it out of fear or intimidation. Here's one thing you need to understand. Most tall women are perfectly fine with the fact that they are tall and you should be too. If you feel intimidated, it's because you are creating that feeling yourself. Most tall women are not going to purposefully try to intimidate anyone. Their height is not something they will use against you. Like any women, tall women care about what kind of guy you are. Not how tall (or short) you are.

2. Whatever you do. . .do NOT use the cheesy tall-women joke lines. Do you think that tall women have never heard them? that you are the first to show your "witty" self"? Do you want to make an impression? Don't even bring up the issue of height in any way, shape or form - hers or yours. Talk about something, anything, else.

3. Sadly, this seems to be one of the harder tasks for men dating taller women. Tall women want to be cuddled too. Hold their hand, put your arms around them. Wine and dine them. Maybe because of their height, they appear to strong to need this kind of attention. But they do. Show them that you love them for their height without making an issue out of it.

4. Ditch the sexual anxiety that you won't measure up in the bedroom. When it comes to sex, everyone is the same height.

5. This is a pretty obvious one but it's easy to do and makes a difference. Stop slouching and always practice good posture. Standing up straight not only makes you look taller, it actually makes you act and feel more confident. Always stand up straight with your shoulders squared. Make the most of your physical frame.

6. When in doubt, look at the stars. All of these famous on-the-short-side guys are dating (or married to) taller women: Michael J. Fox, Martin Sheen, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Dustin Hoffman, and Prince, just to name a few.

7. Stop worrying about what other people think. If you happen to be one of those men dating taller women, do you know what other guys are thinking when they see the two of you together? They're thinking. . ."he must be filthy rich" or they are thinking. . ."he must be great in the sack". Not bad, huh?

Men and dating games seem to go hand in hand. Does this sound familiar. . .Mary and John met at a friends party. There was an immediate attraction and they spent most of the evening talking. John asked Mary for her number at the end of the night and she expected him to call the next day as he had said he would. He did call her. But it was three days later. Why is explained below along with some other games that men play.

1) Men have a 3 day rule. The guys will charm the woman upon their first acquaintance. He'll take her number and may even kiss her passionately good bye. But they don't call until 3 days later. Why? Because this takes the woman down a notch. By the third day, she's already at the point of giving up. She's asking herself why he isn't calling and what she did wrong. Then, he calls with the excuse that he's been really busy. Most women already know about the three day rule, but it works anyway.

2) Men and dating games aren't always recognized easily, especially in this example. Women generally assume that men have a hard time commiting to relationships and men take advantage of this stereotype. They use the excuse of "I'm getting over a serious relationship", "I've been scarred from my parent's divorce", "my last girlfriend cheated on me", among others.

But they are just excuses. While these events may actually be true, they aren't the reasons that a guy won't commit. He will use these lines to keep you attached without him having to be too attached. If this doesn't bother you, then there's no reason to worry. If it does, consider just letting him get over this phase while you date someone else with fewer issues.

3) You've met them. The guys that act as if they are God's gift to women. They behave as if they are doing you a favor by dating you. This isn't really a game. This type of guy probably really does believe this - but you shouldn't! If you're really into a guy like this, be careful. He can really get into your head and change your image of himself and even yourself. But if you're just looking for a little fun, this type of guy is probably the one to give it to you. Just turn the tables and take advantage of what he has to offer for a few days or however long you're interested.

Men and dating games are relatively new in comparison to women and dating games. It's pretty much understood that women are the manipulative ones when it comes to relationships. So hold no grudges - they're just trying to get in on the fun! Now that you are aware of some of their tricks, you can enjoy it too.

Mature women dating them is some guys fantasies. Mature women are more likely to be secure in their sexuality and their finances. They are not looking to settle down and have a new family. Instead, for mature women, dating is a social adventure and meant for fun.

If you are interested in dating mature women, there are some things you need to keep in mind.

First, mature women care about the way a man looks. If a man is younger than her, she will expect him to dress

Second, mature women will be more confident in the bedroom. Their years of experience will have taught them what they want and how to get it. Still, they will be more self-conscious about how they look and may feel that their bodies are betraying them as they age.

Third, realize that the mature woman that you are dating is not likely to either want to or be able to start a new family. She is going to want to enjoy her grandchildren. If you are thinking about fathering children of your own, dont pursue mature women. Dating is fun for these women. Any commitment will mean that your family will be the two of you.

So, if you take these factors into account, where will you find mature women to date? They wont be at the trendiest clubs. In fact, you are more likely to find an older lady improving herself than in a singles hang out. Here are some suggestions as to where ladies of a certain age can be found.

Courses local universities often offer classes through extension. Often, these are in subjects such as art and writing. Women flock to these classes as a hobby.

Public speaking clubs Being able to make a public presentation is very useful in moving up the career ladder. Yet giving a speech is one of the most terrifying things for many people. As a result, clubs like Toastmasters International allow people to practice their skills in a supportive forum. Many career women are members of Toastmasters in an effort to improve their career prospects.

Dance clubs and classes There are far more women who are interested in social dancing such as Salsa, Tango, and Ballroom dancing. As a result, they are always eager to find male partners. If you are interested in dancing, you are sure to have your pick of mature women for dating.

Social clubs for singles Women who are on the look out for men will often gather in social clubs such as Pros in the City, a Washington, D.C. club which features social activities. While they have some activities targeted at singles in specific age groups, many of their activities, which range from group outings to sporting events and the theater to private parties at hot clubs and embassies, are open to everyone.

Everywhere Really, mature women are everywhere! The next time you see an attractive older woman, just go up to her and strike up a conversation. If she is single and interested, you will be surprised at how quickly things move.

For mature women, dating may be more difficult than it was when they were younger. If you position yourself in places where older ladies are, you are sure to be able to start dating mature women quickly.

Many people believe in love at first sight. For some people, they may have had experiences with relationships that were based on falling in love when they first met someone. There are differing opinions throughout the world in regards to knowing the person you just met is the one and whether or not it is possible. The problem is that there is no direct research or information available to prove or disprove the theory of falling in love instantly. Therefore, it is more of an individual belief and is based on how each person perceives things.

Emotional attachment at first sighting is when you have a very strong, immediate connection to someone as soon as you see them. There does not have to be a single word uttered. You see this person and there is an immediate need to be with them. These feelings do not go away. If you are truly meant to be with someone, there is really no way to get rid of the feelings associated with that.

Although it is called love at first sight, there are some instances where the feelings involved do not actually include love. There will always be some sort of very strong emotional bond however. Whether it is love, longing, or just sexual energy, something is going to exist between you and the other person. This can all be termed love at first sight. It can also be the doorway to a happy, lasting relationship.

There are more and more people that say that their relationships were based on love at first sight. For example, look at the commercials that eHarmony has all over the television right now. These people say that they knew right away that the person they met was the one that they were meant to be with.

Some of these couples have been together for years now and are still very happy in their relationships and committed to each other. The interesting thing about these people is that they initially had first sight through photos of each other on the internet. Many people see this as a very strong testimonial to the fact that love at first sight does indeed exist and is a very strong power.

Emotional bonding when meeting someone can happen anywhere, at any time. You could be walking down the street and see someone that you are immediately emotionally charged about. Perhaps, you are at work and a co-worker, customer, or salesperson walks by. Or, maybe you are browsing profiles on an online dating site. All of these scenarios have the potential for bonding strongly with the special one. There are no set rules about where or how the connection can occur. It is very open and very broad. This is in reality what increases skepticism about the realness of love at first sight.

There have been many books and educational materials published on the topic of love at first sight. While none of these people are experts, they all have their own knowledge to offer. Some of the writers and people, which discuss this topic are people that claim to have had first hand experience with relationships that were based on love at first sight.

Long Distance Relationships

There is a lot of controversy and different opinions regarding long distance relationships. Many people will tell you that they can never work. Then, there are people who are involved in long distance relationships that will tell you that they are the best relationships they have ever been in. They would not change where they are at for anything in the world. Long distance relationships are essentially the same as any other relationship. They require the same things from both partners. So, what makes them work or fail?

The most important thing in any kind of relationship is trust and communication. If you are not able to talk to the person that you are spending time with, then you have nothing. If you cannot both completely trust each other, you will never have a meaningful relationship or make it work. In a long distance relationship, communication and trust are much more paramount. You have to rely on what your partner is saying. You are not there to know exactly what is going on. The same is true for your partner. You could be telling them one thing and doing something completely different. For many long distance couples, the internet plays a huge role in their relationship.

With instant messaging programs, webcams, microphones, and email, partners are able to communicate with each other in many different ways. The internet is often much cheaper than long distance phone calls. Plus with the use of a webcam, you can actually see the person that you are talking with. You know what they are doing and you know what is going on. It makes it much more personal. Now, if you want a very real experience, get on your webcams together and then call each other on the phone. This makes it seem as if you are actually right there together.

Long distance relationships require spending a lot of time together. You need to know that your partner is there for you. You are not together and cannot spend intimate time together. You have to rely on the time that you get together. This time that you are investing in each other helps to build a bond and strengthen your relationship. It makes it much more real and special. You both become closer and have a stronger desire for each other.

Long distance relationships have great potential in most circumstances. They can work and can lead to a lifetime of happiness. This does take time and it may be something that you both have to work hard to reach.

Perhaps right now, you are both at a point where you cannot leave your jobs, your homes, or anything else that is keeping you where you live. So, you live on the belief that someday that is going to change and that you will be together in real life. This does happen for people and it can turn into the best relationship that you have ever had in your life. It is all a matter of how much time you put into it and how patient and how able you are to wait for the right time to be together.

Some people have spent years in a long distance relationship before they have ever met their partner. Others are in a relationship for a few months and then they meet each other. They are not able to stay together at this point, but that short time that they have together means a great deal too both people.