Montgomery College to Host Teen Dating Conference

Dating isn't easy for anyone, but it's especially tough on teenagers. We all remember those awkward years. To help with the stress of find a significant other, Montgomery College's Takoma Park campus is hosting a teen dating conference for seventh- through 12th-grade students on Saturday, April 9.

Workshops for students will be available on topics related to healthy teen dating behaviors, recognizing abuse in dating relationships and misuse of technology. A free lunch and raffles will also be available
Parents can participate in separate workshop sessions offered in English and Spanish regarding teen dating relationships.

The conference is sponsored by the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of Montgomery County in collaboration with many other county agencies and organization

For more information, call 240-777-5573.
 
Published here first: http://takomapark.patch.com/articles/montgomery-college-to-host-teen-dating-conference

Dating Tips - Be real and be realistic....

By Jo Barnett, Dating Coach and Connect Dating Co-ordinator

I have noticed that people are still FAR too hung up on appearances when they are looking for their soul mate.  Please do me one favor, step away from the computer, move over to the nearest mirror and just check in with yourself.  Yes, you are gorgeous, I'll take your word for it, but notice the difference between say, you and Angelina Jolie, or you and Brad Pitt.

By all means, love yourself and the way you look, it's important, but be realistic about your 'gorgeousness' when you are gazing into the eyes of the next guy or girl you meet.  Notice how most people have something attractive about them, and its not always the image we had in our head.  Try to look a bit further than their face and their figure.  Yes, it is important I know, but so is depth, personality and values.

Since I have had the opportunity of working for a real live dating agency, I seem to be constantly saying the words, 'don't worry, we will start looking for your new match for you ...'  Only there is no guarantee just how long it will take us to find her or him.  Wonderful,  fantastic, gorgeous people are being rejected because they do not fit the 'image' that someone has created inside their head, of what their ideal soul mate will look like.

What I want to share with you is this, take that physical image of  your ideal soul mate and set it free, screw it up into a ball and start with a clean canvass.  Great, now you are open to the world and meeting new, interesting people, one of which just might be your soul mate.

Now for the 'real' part, if you could live your life really being you in all your glory, how would you behave? What would I notice about you as you are walking to the train station in the morning, and as you sweep the trolly around Sainsburys (or M&S).  Whats 'real' about you, is what is most appealing about you, AND what draws you to the opposite sex.

Are you afraid to really BE yourself? How much of your thoughts and opinions do you share with the world.  Now that you are being realistic about how your soul mate will look, combine this with an injection of your very own personality, and hay presto, we get someone who is ready to go out and date!

What I ask of you is this,  that you take these two wonderful gifts, of being realistic and being real, and go and speak to as many people as possible this month, enjoy the feeling of being 'real' and of getting to know someone you would not normally give the time of day.

Have fun keeping it real...

Jo Barnett

www.datingcoach.me.uk

jo@datingcoach.me.uk

Dating Tips - Be real and be realistic....

By Jo Barnett, Dating Coach and Connect Dating Co-ordinator

I have noticed that people are still FAR too hung up on appearances when they are looking for their soul mate.  Please do me one favor, step away from the computer, move over to the nearest mirror and just check in with yourself.  Yes, you are gorgeous, I'll take your word for it, but notice the difference between say, you and Angelina Jolie, or you and Brad Pitt.

By all means, love yourself and the way you look, it's important, but be realistic about your 'gorgeousness' when you are gazing into the eyes of the next guy or girl you meet.  Notice how most people have something attractive about them, and its not always the image we had in our head.  Try to look a bit further than their face and their figure.  Yes, it is important I know, but so is depth, personality and values.

Since I have had the opportunity of working for a real live dating agency, I seem to be constantly saying the words, 'don't worry, we will start looking for your new match for you ...'  Only there is no guarantee just how long it will take us to find her or him.  Wonderful,  fantastic, gorgeous people are being rejected because they do not fit the 'image' that someone has created inside their head, of what their ideal soul mate will look like.

What I want to share with you is this, take that physical image of  your ideal soul mate and set it free, screw it up into a ball and start with a clean canvass.  Great, now you are open to the world and meeting new, interesting people, one of which just might be your soul mate.

Now for the 'real' part, if you could live your life really being you in all your glory, how would you behave? What would I notice about you as you are walking to the train station in the morning, and as you sweep the trolly around Sainsburys (or M&S).  Whats 'real' about you, is what is most appealing about you, AND what draws you to the opposite sex.

Are you afraid to really BE yourself? How much of your thoughts and opinions do you share with the world.  Now that you are being realistic about how your soul mate will look, combine this with an injection of your very own personality, and hay presto, we get someone who is ready to go out and date!

What I ask of you is this,  that you take these two wonderful gifts, of being realistic and being real, and go and speak to as many people as possible this month, enjoy the feeling of being 'real' and of getting to know someone you would not normally give the time of day.

Have fun keeping it real...

Jo Barnett

www.datingcoach.me.uk

jo@datingcoach.me.uk

Being happy with you and Dating – they go hand in hand!

Once you are living a full and balanced life you do not need to rely on someone else to make you happy. Once you are comfortable in your own skin, okay at spending some time on your own, you have some hobbies of your own, then you have something to give to the other person and it makes you less needy and more attractive. Know what you have to bring to the table.

Feeling secure in yourself and your relationships, being a good communicator, having other positive relationships in your life, all help make dating run smoothly.

Being aware that men and women behave very differently: not getting disappointed if you don’t get that phone call right away.

Maintaining your identity and not giving your power away – what do you have to do to stay you. What’s important in your life that you need to keep doing in order to be you?

On the date
Putting forward your most positive self

This is something I am very passionate about. There is nothing worse than being on a date with someone that is moaning or depressed about his or her work, or fed up with his or her life. Maybe your life is not all a bed of roses but try and shelve that for at least the first four dates. Talk about the positives, something you enjoyed doing recently, a run, a movie, and a meal, anything positive.

Get to know someone in stages, the first stage is about sharing and generating some interest, this is where you can hold back some of the nooks and crannies and focus on positive things in your life right now.

Its good to get the other person talking to so try to ask questions that will take them to the stuff they enjoy too. If you feel like you are going into a bit of a black hole and past relationships are the topic then say something like, ‘why don’t we not talk about that now, lets find something more fun to chat about! I am sure the other person will appreciate it.

Jo Barnett Dating Coach
http://www.datingcoach.me.uk/

Universities force library dating site FitFinder to be taken down

A student dating website that received four million hits in its first month has been taken down after pressure from universities.


The FitFinder combines Twitter and a classified ads column, allowing students to swap messages of admiration in libraries and social spaces. But there has been concern from university authorities that it is proving a distraction for students during revision term and women’s groups have expressed disquiet after several posts on the site were deemed offensive.



More than 1,000 students signed an online petition to save the site in less than two hours yesterday.



Rich Martell, 21, the UCL student who founded The FitFinder less than a month ago, has been in talks with entrepreneurs to extend the site beyond universities. He hopes to follow the model of Facebook, which extended beyond campuses and now has 400 million users worldwide. He said yesterday that he hoped to get the site back online but pressures from university authorities had forced him to comply.

“I’m wanting to take it forward but I want to clear things up and comply with the unis,” he said. “People want it. It’s only a social networking site.”



The site had previously been removed from some university servers but was reinstated hours later after students complained that the ban violated their freedom of speech. Nonetheless, UCL has disciplined Mr Martell and given him the maximum fine. The university said last week that it had previously asked him to take the site down but he had refused.



Last week the London School of Economics told The Times: “We’re against the site and we’ve asked people not to use it. First of all we had some complaints from students who found it insulting and secondly if you’re in the library you’re there to study.”





http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article7139417.ece

Dating should be fun, so why is my hair turning white and my enthusiasm fading fast!?

Dating Tips by the Dating Coach - Jo Barnett

When you first set eyes on your date one of two things can happen, relief or revulsion. He or she may not look like your dream partner but then you and then you do one of the following, pretend you are present while mentally preparing for tomorrows meeting, or give them a chance (innocent until proven guilty).

Remind yourself why you are here, to find out more about someone, believe me its as hard for them as it is for you so if you feel nervous try and laugh about it. So what if you cant instantly see yourself walking down the isle with this person, settle for an orange juice instead.

If you have decided to give the lucky contestant a chance, the compliment will be returned and they will now be giving you at least half of their attention. This is not to be sneezed at and I encourage you to take this moment and expand on it. Now's the time to use your body language, smile and unfold your arms, get some positive energy flowing.

Ask some questions and try to share something positive about yourself. By letting someone in a bit they will feel more relaxed and at ease. You may even begin to LIKE your date, then one or two things will happen, the conversation will hopefully flow, and this is a great time so start being a bit flirty! Remind yourself that you are all about having a fun night out and getting to know someone, treat him or her as if they were a new best friend.

When your date is speaking it makes sense to really listen, then at least you know what you are getting into, you can not hide behind a pretense that you did not realize he was already married, or that she has just come out from a lovely stay at the clinic?

Tell a story about yourself like the time you went on holiday with a friend and something funny happened. This is not the LIFE story, just a simple little piece of your past. When you share with someone one of two things can happen, the other person gets to see a different side of you, they may also feel closer and more attracted to you (its a win win).

Toward the end of the evening one or two things will start to happen for both of you, either you decide that you want to see your date again or you are planning a polite let down. If you want to see this person again tell them, its really flattering and people respond well to honest. Don't take a rejection to heart, as lovely and charming as you are, not everyone is for everyone.

I know its hard to imagine, but your date has a busy life too so he or she may not get in touch straight away, be patient. If you really want to know whats going on for the other person, take a deep breath and ask! Text, email, msm, its all available to us but nothing works like the other person at the end of the phone.

I hope you enjoy your next date and I am on call for follow up sessions!

Jo Barnett
Dating Coach
http://www.datingcoach.me.uk/

The Dating Coach - Welcome

We are pleased to announce the additon to our team of the dating coach, Jo Barnett, http://www.datingcoach.me.uk/ and we are looking forward to her input!

Thanks Jo!