Five Types of Romances Every Woman Should Have (at Least Once)

Perhaps you're approaching that "maybe I should think about settling down" age (whatever number that may be.) Or perhaps you've hit a little bump in the road of Singledom. In any case, you've begun to reflect upon the ones that got away, the ones you threw away, and The One-the Mr. Right that your friends and family say is still out there. Whatever your romantic situation, every woman should entertain at least one of these fascinating romances in her single life.

The "Foreign Exchange" Romance - You took a long overdue trip abroad and came back home with a bit more than great Facebook photos and a stamp on your passport. Visiting a foreign country for the first time is quite exciting. Learning about another culture, trading ideas and stories can provide the basis for a vibrant romance. Yep, that "informal" tour guide you met in that French café may actually turn into the subject of a terrific romantic story. However long the romance lasts is pretty much inconsequential. These are the kinds of romances that women often tell their grown daughters about one day.

The May/December Romance - Some women tend to date older men regularly. But if this hasn't been your cup of tea in the past, you might want to keep this particular option open. You don't have to date someone your dad's (or Granddad's) age in order to benefit from dating someone with a bit more life experience. Many women find that dating a man even 8 to 10 years their senior has its benefits. For example, it's typical for most older men to have older children. Thus, women who don't plan on becoming mothers are desirable to men who have already raised (or practically raised) their own kids.

The "Complete Opposite" Romance- Go ahead; take the plunge. You're an artist, a freethinker, and a free spirit. You love like-minded individuals, other artists, or musicians-because they get you. But you might just be doing yourself a disservice by dismissing the Corporate Junkie. (By the way, these guys often have a hidden wild streak as well.) Dating someone your complete opposite may seem weird at first. But as we dig through the layers that make up our personalities, we tend to find tons of similarities. Even if your "Opposites Attract" relationship doesn't hold out for the long-term, there are still many benefits to dating someone with a different perspective of life.

The "One You're Not Attracted To" Romance -Now this one might sound a bit unlikely. That's because most people enjoy eye candy. We are naturally drawn to people who appeal to us physically. But it is at this juncture that you should think outside the box. You don't necessarily need to "hunt" for someone you find physically repulsive, simply to make a point. But at social gatherings, take a chance and indulge in conversation with someone you wouldn't normally approach or respond to romantically. You may be surprised that the "type" you're typically attracted to doesn't even enter your brain. Long-lasting romances evolve in the strangest ways. Sometimes it's a person's inner qualities that ultimately make them more attractive in the long run.

The "Second Time Around" Romance - Some therapists frown upon revisiting old romances. But there are some definite benefits of returning to an old flame. Just ask those who have married, divorced, and remarried the same people over again. This isn't the kind of romance signified by the flip-flopping of an on-again/off-again status. The "Second Time Around" romance refers to the love affair that has had significant time to cool, preferably years. This type of love story usually works when all hard feelings have had the chance to dissipate. If you're both smart, you can easily identify the areas where you went wrong and completely avoid those mistakes the next time. What's more, time apart can strengthen people individually; when they reunite, they often discover new and exciting things about their partners.

SOURCES:

www.ivillage.com
www.madamenoire.com
www.thefrisky.com
www.about.com