When it comes to dating and giving out dating advice, I try my best to remain objective and open-minded. That’s primarily because I understand people are all so uniquely and completely different – in our likes, dislikes and all the things that fall someplace in the middle. However, I do think we all seek the same things from a relationship regardless of age, race, religion, economics, sexual orientation and gender. That is the need to have companionship, to feel loved and to feel safe.

Dating is just one of many paths to finding that in your life. So, if it were simple, why is there an abundance of dating advice that bombards us through magazines, books, TV shows, radio and the Internet?

Which, ultimately, brings us back to this: Who do you turn to for “trusted” dating advice? Is it your best friend, your sister, an ex-boyfriend or even a local radio station’s live Q & A call-in show during a twenty-four hour tear-filled dating crisis? Ah, you know that your marathon dating meltdown has begun when you are calling strangers on the airways of America’s AM and FM radio to find out how to cope with him or her.

Dating advice may be the life-line as to when to ask a potentially deal-breaking question like “are we exclusive?” That’s when we fear he or she will go running for the hills Speed-Racer style: helmet, goggles, striped sneakers and all. Or, do you bite your tongue and keep your emotionally-loaded, full deck of cards close to the chest, wondering if he/she will ever bring this up as you drop him or her off at their home the next morning after a very intimate and memorable night together? So, whom do you ask?

For me, personally, I have always asked for dating advice from the people closest to me: my mother being number one, even though I don’t always give her the nitty-gritty dirt about the sex or how many glasses of wine I may have consumed. Oh, and mums the word on the size of his penis – even if it was huge. I leave those details to girls’ night out. My mom’s dating advice has always remained solid and, most importantly to me truthful. With her words of wisdom, I’ve been able to take the dating high road which has been to be honest with myself regardless of the outcome. So, my best dating advice is to find the genuine truth in yourself, be honest about your needs, be flexible, brush and floss your teeth, wear clean underwear and, most importantly, have fun and laugh. A lot.