The first thing you have to do before finding your soul mate, is finding yourself. What qualities are important to you? What are your morals and beliefs? How do you show your affection and how do you expect it to be presented to you? These are questions necessary for you to ask yourself before going out there. Giving yourself an interview will make things clearer of what type of person you are really looking for, instead of just going on a blind search.

It is very common for a person to date people just for “dating”. While dating is a fun and useful experience, it is not advisable to just go out with anyone just to have a date, or to enter a relationship because you do not want to be alone. When you go out on a date, it is important that you use that date as an opportunity to observe and see if person is someone you would like to see again and if they carry qualities you are looking for. If, for example, if you are searching for a person who is in touch with his or her romantic side, but go on a date with someone who likes acting rough at baseball games and loves hunting, then you could pretty much see where relationship would go. You should be able to sense these qualities after a few dates.

Once you have realized that these dates will not lead to a relationship you have dreamed of, then obviously person is not your dream mate either, and it would be best if you stop seeing each other to prevent any misleading expectations. Continuing to date someone just because you entered a comfort zone or do not want to hurt their feelings will only hold you back from meeting who you are really meant to be with, not to mention waste precious time for both you and your date’s. Gently break it to him or her that you find them to be a very interesting and nice person, but you feel like going solo for a while and then move on.

When Mrs. Stupidman gives me directions I need a big piece of paper. Her directions are based on rights, lefts and landmarks. Go past Wal-Mart, turn left at big sign, look for house with puce shutters (What's puce?), then go two houses further on opposite side.

"What's address?" "I don't know, but you can't miss it." "From what direction did you assume I was coming when you began instructions?" "Huh?"

"The Wal-Mart is on corner of an intersection. Should I go north, south, east or west from Wal-Mart?" "Huh?"

"Should I head towards Kansas, Arkansas, Texas or California?" (We live in Oklahoma.) "Oh, Arkansas."

I realize I don't pay attention to landmarks. I don't notice new stores, pretty signs, big tree. I'm limited to primary colors and even with that I have trouble distinguishing blues from greens.

When I was younger I tried to accommodate women by giving landmark directions but I was a failure.

One time my sister wanted directions to a new shopping center. I told her to go past three red lights before making a right turn. She got lost and blamed me. Turned out I should have said traffic light instead of red light.

Mrs. Stupidman and I used to have a lot of conflict over directions. She thought my smug expressions and tone were condescending (not me).