Psychic

While I was home for my mother's birthday we watched What Women Want , a romantic comedy starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. I know I am behind on my watching of chick flicks. In this particular case I am about ten years behind. It is not that I dislike films that seem to cater more towards woman than men; it is more that I do not seek out this kind of film. It is not like when football season is over I spend those free nights at Blockbuster or loading up my Netflix queue debating whether or not I am more in the mood for The Notebook or Pretty Woman . I am not opposed to them; I watch them when I have a girlfriend. It is purely situational. Actually I usually find something I like about them.

"He has the power to hear everything women are thinking. Finally... a man is listening." - IMDB.com

I began to ponder on this ridiculous idea and wondered if things would be better or worse if this was in any way a realistic achievement. If suddenly men listened and understood women, would it not throw off the balance of relationships everywhere? Wouldn't it be like removing insects and throwing the entire ecosystem into a tailspin? Maybe it would also be like removing politicians from government. In all of these scenarios I predict complete chaos.

So let us think for a minute about the other side of the coin. Maybe this would be a good thing and 'efficiency' would become common in relationships. Maybe the next time a group of guys gathered over cards and beer they would say things like, "Well, she isn't the most attractive woman I have been with, but we have an efficient relationship." And possibly an adequate response would be, "Damn, I wish Kim and I could be like that. It takes forever to get anything done when we are together."

Isn't the best part of meeting someone getting to know him or her? If you heard every thought they had, would you still ask questions or even be interested at all? I would find it interesting at first then I would be bored to tears as if watching the weather channel on repeat. In the movie, Mel's character doesn't have the power to use the "gift' when he wants to or not. If I had no control, I would lose my mind. I would be constantly infiltrated by the thoughts of those around me. It would force me to be a recluse.

I think the 'gift' actually exists in all of us and is earned by taking the time to listen to those close to you. If you connect with someone mentally then you have the ability to connect with them on any emotional, spiritual and sexual level.

The stereotype that men don’t understand women and that they are detached emotionally, is just that - a general and vague assessment of men as a whole. No matter what kind of man you are, you have the ability to understand women if you choose to. You do not have to be a mind reader to know what she is thinking or feeling. Watch, listen and learn - and you too can know what women want.

by Trey Mitchell

For sale

We always hear of people selling their souls. It seems so definite and dramatic but we often sell many other things for even less. Don't fool yourself. We are all selling and we are all buying. We are human currency. We all sell our outer appearance, sexuality, career, intelligence, sense of humor, wealth, etc and we all have a price. Even selling nothing is selling something.

Comedians sell their humor, musicians sell their music, filmmakers sell their vision, models sell their looks, and athletes sell their ability, and so on. Even we 'normal folk' all sell something.

Of course, we all know that prostitution is referred to as the oldest profession. It goes back to the beginning of time. Women who were not married or were widowed often had no way to earn a living. They were often not allowed to own property or learn a trade. Since men had always been at the mercy of their urges, women learned they could sell their bodies to get things they needed such as food, shelter and clothing.

I think we all have the 'buy up' plan in mind and everything we do is to attract a mate. You may disagree but indirectly this is true. Men strive for success, looks, money, fame, etc all to attract a mate. A guy may need to express himself as a musician but in doing so it attracts women. Again, some might argue that not every singer only made that decision to get women but it is an indirect result. An accountant or actuary may not pursue that career in the intention of making a ton of money to get women but it attracts women. Financial stability is high on the attraction scale. The trend of establishing self sufficiency before settling down demonstrates the want instead of a need for a man. Why do women try so hard to hold onto their looks for so long? Because they know men place physical attraction high on the list. When we feel secure in our lives and establish self-worth we then use that to attract a mate.

We can't all be 'top shelf' but the combinations of these attributes can land you a good deal. Often looks, money, status, intelligence, success or humor can be interchangeable. This is why you often see wealthy older men with younger attractive women or a comedian with an actress or an actor with a model. Yet not all combinations work. Have you ever heard of a male super model comedian? I did not think so.

In writing this I had to ask myself what it is that I am selling. It is much easier to look at my friends and be able to determine what they are selling. But after self-analyzing I realized that I sell different things to different people in different situations. In business I sell my knowledge and experience. With family I sell unconditional love. With friends I sell loyalty. I guess potential mates get a mixture of all of the above. How I sell myself to women is one of the most difficult to nail down.

So what are you selling and are you selling the right thing? Is there enough demand for what you are selling? How does what you are selling differ from the other sellers around you? I guess in the end it is not how or what you are selling but rather that you sell it with conviction. Like a salesperson, it is easier and more enjoyable to sell that which you believe in one hundred percent. With dedication and perseverance your big payday will come when your ship sails in. After all, don't good things come to those who wait? Well, maybe more so to those who actively seek it out. The search for that great bargain is usually worth it.

By Trey Mitchell