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Showing posts from January, 2026

5 Ways to Stop Falling for the Wrong People

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If you keep falling for the wrong people, this is for you. Learn why you do it and how to stop so you can go on your last first date. — Have you ever looked back at your dating history and thought, “Why do I keep choosing the wrong people and getting my heart broken?” Most of us aren’t falling for the wrong people because we lack discernment. We’re doing it because old patterns are sneaky, attraction is powerful, and hope can be louder than our inner wisdom. The good news is this can change. Here are five ways to start choosing the right people without shutting down your heart or losing hope that you’ll ever find love. 5 Ways to Stop Falling for the Wrong People 1. Learn the difference between chemistry and compatibility Chemistry is immediate and electric. Compatibility is quieter and reveals itself over time. Many “wrong” relationships start with intense chemistry that masks real misalignment in values, communication, or emotional availability. Instead of simply asking,...

How to Become More Emotionally Available in Dating

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How do you become more emotionally available in dating? In this episode, we discuss some simple steps you can take today. — How do you become more emotionally available in dating? My podcast guest, Brooke Bralove, has the answers! She is a Psychotherapist, Certified Sex Therapist, and Master Accelerated Resolution Therapy Practitioner. She helps women and men let go of perfectionism and move toward greater authenticity, joy, pleasure, and connection. She has been in private practice in Bethesda, MD for over 20 years. In this episode: What is ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) and how does it work in relationships? What are some common emotional blocks people carry into dating, and how do they show up? How can past experiences or trauma impact someone’s ability to connect emotionally with a partner? What are practical steps or exercises listeners can try to become more emotionally available? EP 696: Brooke Bralove – How to Become More Emotionally Available in Dating Can...

5 Tips That Will Help You Overcome Your Fear of Flirting in Midlife

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Do you find flirting in midlife to be awkward or fake? Here are five tips to help you flirt naturally, playfully, and effectively! — Flirting in midlife isn’t about playing games or trying to be someone you’re not. It’s about connection, confidence, and letting yourself be seen. When you remove the pressure to perform, flirting becomes something you are , not something you do . Here are 5 tips for flirting in midlife and beyond that don’t feel fake or forced. 1. Start with eye contact and warmth Flirting often begins before a single word is spoken. Example: You’re waiting in line for coffee. You catch someone’s eye, hold it for a second, smile, then look away. When you step up to order and they comment on the long line, you respond with that same warmth: “Worth it for good coffee, right?” No big move. Just openness. 2. Use curiosity instead of clever lines Curiosity creates connection faster than rehearsed banter ever could. Example: Instead of asking, “So what do yo...

5 Questions That Lead to Deeper Conversations in Early Dating

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How do you have deeper conversations on a first date? These 5 questions will open up lively, informative, and connecting conversations. — Early dating doesn’t have to feel like an interview or a performance. The most meaningful connections grow when conversations move beyond small talk and into curiosity, values, and things you have in common. If you’re dating and craving something real, these five questions can gently open the door to deeper conversations. They’re not about pushing intimacy too fast or interrogating your date to see if there are red or green flags. They’re about listening, noticing, and seeing whether there’s room to grow together. 1. What feels fulfilling to you right now? This question reveals priorities. Some people light up talking about family, creativity, travel, volunteering, or even slowing down. Pay attention not just to the answer, but to the energy behind it. If you want to learn if their vision aligns with where you are in your life today, this...

Reinventing Love and Life After 40

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Have you thought about reinventing your love and life after 40? Wendy Valentine did, and here’s her inspirational story! — Wendy Valentine reinvented her love and life after 40. She’s the author of Women Waking Up: The Midlife Manifesto for Passion, Purpose, and Play and the host of The Midlife Makeover Show , a top-rated podcast for women in midlife. After her divorce at 45, she learned to “marry herself” first—rebuilding her life from the inside out. Now she empowers women to embrace self-love, rediscover joy, and attract relationships rooted in authenticity and alignment. In this episode of Last First Date Radio: What it means to marry yourself before dating after divorce The FREEDOM Framework for transformation, and how to use it to heal from heartbreak How to design your ideal relationship and have an amazing life after 40 EP 694: Wendy Valentine – Reinventing Love and Life After 40 You’ve said that one of the best things you ever did was “marry yourself.” What ...

5 Steps to Bust Limiting Beliefs in Dating

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Your limiting beliefs could be keeping you from the love you want. Here are 5 ways to bust those beliefs and finally find your person! — If dating has felt discouraging, confusing, or exhausting, it may not be because you’re meeting the wrong people. More often than not, it’s because old, limiting beliefs are quietly running the show. Limiting beliefs are those deeply held stories we tell ourselves that feel like facts, but are actually assumptions shaped by past experiences, heartbreak, cultural messaging, and fear. By midlife, we have had enough lived experience to collect quite a few of them. The good news is that beliefs are just thoughts, which means they can be questioned, softened, and replaced. And when they are, dating starts to feel lighter, more empowering, and more aligned. Here are five steps to help you bust the limiting beliefs that may be holding you back from love. Step 1: Identify the Story You Keep Repeating The first step in changing any behavior patte...