Meet Tracey Michelle
Tracey Michelle is from Bolton, MS and now lives in Clinton, MS. Her goal is to create a place to encourage safe and healthy dating here in Jackson, MS. She has an event on May 20th at @7pm located at 5738 HWY 80 W Jackson, MS 39209 for singles to come out to mix and mingle with the prepose of moving towards a healthy long term relationship. Tracey and I both had been in unhealthy marriages that lead to being single parents but neither did she nor I stop there. It created an opportunity and space for self-reflection and understanding of our purpose which allowed this conversation to take place.
Are you single or are you dating? If you are single, could it be because of the challenges of actually finding someone who is compatible with your personality and beliefs? Do you find yourself losing faith in believing that you could possibly be in a healthy and happy relationship with an opposite or same-sex individual? I am here to tell you that there is someone out there for you and not to lose hope. During this interview, we uncovered so many tips on dating and red flags to look for to avoid an unhealthy relationship. The discussion covered healthy dating activities, how healthy dating affects your health, what unhealthy dating leads to, and signs to look for when dating.
Healthy Dating Activities
There are so many things we can do to help get connected with our partners but seems to run out of ideas. The activities include:
- Dancing
- Rock Climbing
- Hiking
- Yoga
- Staying Home (dinner, Netflix, game night)
- Talking over Wine and Chocolate (home, lake, park)
- Weekend getaways
- Bowling
- Horseback riding
- Going on Couples Retreats
Dating Affecting Your Health
Dating healthy and helping lead to a healthier and long life. Have you noticed that when you were in a happy space in your previous relationship it helped you handle things a lot differently because you were more calm in your responses? Dating gives you something to look forward to and to be happy about seeing that person or being around that person so your mind is always on “cloud nine” as they say. There is no room for negativity because you are in your happy space. When you are in this space it helps lower the blood pressure and stress hormones that would result in anxiety, anger, or other unhealthy issues in relation to your body and mind. On the positive side, releasing those stress hormones can be done by holding hands, hugging, and having a healthy but active sexual relationship with your partner. You don’t want to end up a Madea, do you? LOL
What Unhealthy Dating Leads To
- Depression
- Financial Issues
- Abusive Relationships
- Also Failed or Broken Close Family and Friends Relationships
It is important to acknowledge the signs of this type of behavior sooner than later. The later you wait to address it and move on is actually the worse the situation will get. You will find yourself in situations that are very difficult to get out of or maybe even life-threatening. Never allow a person the control to take you away from those who make you who you are and play a huge part in your life. This is a method used to isolate you resulting in manipulation, control, and neglect of your emotional well-being.
Top 10 Signs To Look For When Dating
- a person who is condescending
- jealous/ always dependent on you
- neglectful of your emotional/ physical needs
- abusive
- cheater/ unfaithful
- moody most of the time
- inconsiderate
- selfish/self-absorbed
- sexual attractions to others/ a person who sexualizes others
- someone who withholds sex as a punishment or to control you
All of these are very important signs to acknowledging a “GET OUT” warning. I encourage anyone in relationships or dating someone with these signs to self-reflect and know your worth. It’s never worth the trouble in the end. The person that deserves to be in your life will be the opposite of every sign listed above. That person will love everything about you and will even encourage you to be the best person you desire to be in this life.
#GetSOM via @madcappodcast & click here to celebrate Hip-Hop, lifestyle and culture.
