Last week, I went to a family event in Cincinnati. I grew up in the Queen City and would head back every Thanksgiving, but since my parents moved closer to me, I hadn't been there in years.
My sister and I used to love showing our kids the old house where we grew up. The first few times we did it, our kids were toddlers and since they had no choice, they indulged us by listening to tales of our childhood.
By the time my kids were were old enough to drive, they headed to the movies in their own cars with their cousins and left my sister and me to head down memory lane.
A favorite story is about the party we had where all the girls danced in front of posters of Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz, listening to "Daydream Believer" and "I Want To Be Free."
Remember how gorgeous Davy Jones was? Did you have a crush on him like I did?
Davy Jones passed away last year (may he rest in peace). In the few years before that, do you remember seeing pictures of him? How did you feel about Davy Jones at 60?
How about Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones?
So masculine, so cute and that hair... Didn't you just love his longer hair?
If you're like me, these images remind you of your youth and trigger feelings from the first loves and crushes you experienced.
Now, I want to ask you a question... if you saw a picture of Keith over 60, would you want to date him?
Chances are, every time you go online you are subconsciously taking the young images of all the Davys and Keiths with you to the dating site.
Yet who shows up? An old man and it's shocking because you don't see yourself as old.
I hear from a lot of women that when they meet men, the zing of the attraction factor just isn't there for them.
I think expecting men to look and act a lot younger is part of the reason so many women struggle with dating.
I want to encourage you to give decent men a chance. Read men's online profiles, even if they don't float your boat with their picture.
As we age, we all get less cute... I'm sorry to be such a "Debbie downer" about this. But it's important to start getting realistic about why you're out there dating and what you want out of your relationships with men at this age.
I want you to take a moment and decide what's important to you when it comes to attracting a quality man into your life. Is it about having a hottie to hang onto?
Or is it about having a man at your side who is going to totally love you, emotionally support you when you need it and rub your feet when you've been standing in a pair of heels all day?
I would love to hear what you think in the comments.
Lisa Copeland is the Dating Coach who empowers strong women over 50 to attract quality men. Find out more at www.FindAQualityMan.com and learn Lisa's 4 Secrets To Finding Mr. Right.
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