It's Time to Find a Marriage-Minded Man You Can Trust

My husband joined me to to talk about one trait that all men want in a woman. This trait makes a man feel valued and it's critical for women--single or married--to implement in their relationships.

As my husband said, this trait will, "go a long way toward [a man] returning the love to [a woman] that she craves." That sounds pretty wonderful, right? 

Here's the transcript in case you'd rather read than watch. 

Shana: This is Single Over 30

Clark: I am neither single, nor over 30.

Shana: Do you want to get in the. . . do you want to get in the camera?

Clark: I'm well, well over 30.

Shana: Okay, so today we are going to answer a question. You're going to answer a question.

Clark: I'm going to? Okay. Alright.

Shana: Can you give me one tip, because Shawn, in the Single Over 30 Facebook community asked if we would make a video with you and I. We're a little off center, because you're a little over there somewhere.

Clark: It's okay. (Laughter).

Shana: But anyway, soooo. . ....

A while back, I received a question from a single woman named *Sharon who asked, “Shana, I’m online dating and I don’t want to move. I love my community. I love living near my family and friends. So, can’t I just find someone in my community instead of expanding my search?” 

Sharon isn’t the only one asking questions about long-distance dating. It’s a topic that often comes up with the women that I coach. 

Before I go on, let me say that I get it. When I was single and in my late 30s, I lived in Colorado. I absolutely loved it and I didn’t want to move. So, when I tried online dating, and when a friend suggested I meet her neighbor who lived four hours away from me, I wasn’t open.

That said, here are 4 tips I shared with *Sharon that I hope help you too if you are asking if you should be open to dating long distance. 

When you’re married, your husband is your first priority.

It’s awesome if...

Last year, I received an email from a woman in her forties who met a man and she was sure he was “the one.”

She wrote, “Shana, it finally happened! I met a guy a couple weeks ago, and we instantly hit it off. I just know we were made for each other. We have a true soul connection.”

Because I was single until I was 46, I know what it’s like to ache for a relationship and wonder if your desire for love will ever be fulfilled. I know what it’s like for a guy who checks all your boxes to come along and shower you with affection.

But when I hear stories like this (which is often), I always cringe.

It’s not that I don’t want women to find love—and it’s not that there isn’t a chance this relationship could work out.

It’s just that what singles call “chemistry” in the initial stages of a relationship is not a solid indicator of whether or not a relationship will go the distance.

It’s not a...

There’s a lot of talk out there that two people must be compatible for a relationship to last.

But how important is it in a relationship? 

In his book The Meaning of Marriage, Timothy Keller provides a solid perspective about this topic. I hope it enlightens you are single and are looking to meet--and marry--that special someone. 

“If you think of marriage largely in terms of erotic love, then compatibility means sexual chemistry and appeal. If you think of marriage largely as a way to move into the kind of social status in life you desire, then compatibility means being part of the desired social class, and perhaps common tastes and aspirations for lifestyle. The problem with these factors is that they are not durable.

Physical attractiveness will wane, no matter how hard you work to delay its departure. And socio-economic status unfortunately can change almost overnight. When people think they have found compatibility based on these things,...

Picture this.

You meet a man. He immediately thinks you're amazing. He is so handsome and very charming and best of all, he treats you like a queen. You think he might be the one you have been praying for and waiting for--and you can't believe it.

This is a good thing, right?

It could be. Or, it could be that you are being love bombed. What is love bombing? It's something EVERY SINGLE SINGLE woman needs to know about.

I wish I would have known about it when I was flying solo. It would have saved me tons of time and heartache.

Please watch this video. It's only 3:52 and it could save you tons of tears, too. 

Several people have asked how I met my husband sooooo. . . my husband Clark agreed to tell HIS side of the story, and I told MY side of the story.

Be encouraged. . . a great relationship can happen at any age. My husband was 51 when we married and I was 46.

It can be pretty confusing for a woman to know how long she should wait to kiss her date. Here's my take on the topic. And, I share about how you can get a FREE 30 minute coaching call to help you overcome your greatest relationship obstacle. Get your FREE coaching session here.

I once spoke with a woman who was in her late thirties who told me about a man she had been friends with for several years. She was very interested in a romantic relationship with him, but he had made it clear on several occasions that they were just friends and he wasn’t interested in her. Still, she said they spent just about every weekend together, and many nights hanging out after work.

As she spoke, I thought about the contrast between how she said she wanted to marry, and how she spent her time. Even though she said she wanted to say “I do,” her actions and words didn’t line up; she wasn’t being intentional about her dating life.

Being intentional means you have a plan. It means you intend to do something—and in this case, marry. And, being intentional means you don’t get stuck in what one of my friends calls, “friendlationships.”

Friendlationships are one of the ways singles waste precious months and...