Somebody is always calling up my program and saying “Everything was going really well and then all of a sudden….” and I say , “Nonsense. You’re either dealing with a psychopath, somebody who deserves an Academy Award, or you weren’t paying attention.” Guess which of these three is most often is. That’s right: You weren’t paying attention.

Sophocles said the unexamined life is not worth living, and I say the unexamined date is a waste of time. Pay attention to your date and to your own responses. You don’t have to constantly monitor as though your date were in dating ICU and liable to expire at any moment, but be willing every once in a while to step out a bit and see what’s going on. How are you? How does the date seem to be doing? Are you happy? Is it fun? Are you being attentive? Do you need more sleep? Are your senses being dulled? Being dense is a tough way to lead your life and dangerous when you’re dealing with someone else who wants you tuned in.

Listen up. Look up. Live it up. Love it up.