Blog Posts by BounceBack

Is Valentine's Day Totally Overdone?
By Sarah Rae for BounceBack.com

It's that time of year again. Storefronts decorated with red and pink hearts, every color roses, obnoxious mylar balloons, and half-ransacked greeting card aisles. Like New Year's Eve, we feel like we can't be alone on February 14th and yet all our non-single friends will be unavailable.

Valentine's Day may not have been invented by Hallmark, but the trumping up of this holiday's importance is definitely the result of clever advertising. In the U.S. we send about 1 billion valentine cards and eat over 1 billion pounds of chocolate. Doesn't sound all that sexy. In fact, the roots of the holiday itself will make you wonder what love has to do with it at all.

Originally in ancient Rome February 14th was the day young couples would be paired up by lottery for the duration of the Pagan pastoral festival Lupercalia, which began on the 15th. The festival celebrated the she-wolf Lupa responsible for suckling the infant babes Romulus

Are White Lies OK when Breaking Up?

By James Lane for BounceBack.com

I think Neil Sedaka said it best. Breaking up is hard to do. People are always asking, wondering, contemplating, "What is the best way to break up with someone?" In all honesty, I don't think there is a best way. It's just one of those things we all have to do in life that is going to be uncomfortable. Which leads me to my questions this week: When it comes to breaking up with your significant other, do you give the actual reason(s) as to why you want the relationship to end, or to save face, do you lie?

We all know the classic break up sayings: "It's not you, it's me" / "I just need to focus on my career right now" / "I am not the relationship type" / "You could do so much better than me". Raise your hand if you have ever heard one of these. Okay, I can't see. But I'll just pretend you are all sitting at your computers or smart phones with a hand raised in agreement.

When we say these things, we know it's a lie. And

Don't Like a Friend's Significant Other?
By Lindsay Ross for BounceBack.com

Have you liked every single one of your best friends' or family members' significant others? The answer is presumably "No". Have you always kept it to yourself or have you been vocal about it? Possibly not so quick of an answer. It is a very delicate subject and a difficult situation when dealing with someone who you love.

How is one supposed to handle a friend or family member who is dating someone that no one really likes? Is honesty really the best policy?

To preface this discussion, we want to state that if a loved one or family member is being abused emotionally or physically, this warrants immediate attention and assistance towards that individual to leave this unhealthy relationship.

But what if you just don't like the person? Or if they just aren't "worthy" or good enough for your friend or family member? That's when it gets a bit tricky. If you find yourself in this fragile situation, there are three roads you can choose

Should you break up before Valentine's, or wait until after?
By Erica Conte for BounceBack.com

Breaking up is never easy. Even if it's for the best, that person was a part of your life and saying goodbye can take a lot of thought and courage. And it can be even harder to do around a holiday, especially one that Hallmark specifically created to commemorate the mushy-gushiness between loved ones. That's right, we're talking about Valentine's Day.

Related: Should You Stay Or Should You Go? 5 Questions to Ask

With Valentine's approaching, the happy couples out there are making plans for romantic getaways, candlelit dinners, and the like. The single people may be getting together with friends, enjoying time alone, or hitting the town in hopes of meeting someone new. But what about the couples who aren't so happy? What if Valentine's Day doesn't feel like another opportunity to show your partner you love them, but instead feels like a burden on your shoulders? What do you do if you want to break up with your significant other, but Valentine's Day

When Your Love Life is a Mess, Can a Coworker Clean It Up?
By Elliot Yoo for BounceBack.com

People stay in relationships for almost every reason under the sun. But what about people who stay in a relationship strictly for sex? Sure, it's immature, but getting beyond that, is there really any harm? Great sex ranks differently on many people's relationship values lists, and therefore figuring out whether it's okay to stay together for sex is a much trickier question than it initially seems. The answer seems to be contingent upon how the relationship stands up to certain questions, so if you're staying together strictly for sex, here are some things you should ask yourself:

1) Are you happy?

First and foremost, this is the most obvious and most important question to consider. Some people are easily satisfied in life, and you shouldn't be embarrassed to admit if you are one of those people. If sex ranks extremely high on the list of values you place on your significant other and your relationship, and the two of you are happy in

How do you beat those Facebook Jealousy Blues?
By Patia Braithwaite, BounceBack.com Editorial Staff

If you've spent any time on social networks recently, especially with the holidays, you may have noticed the abundance of sappy photos and status updates: the picture of your ex's newborn with a gift bow on her head, your childhood friend's engagement ring sparkling above an open fire, or those obnoxious photos of decorative ornaments commemorating your coworker's first Christmas with her husband. And now with Valentine's Day right around the corner, there's certain to be another onslaught of love, love, and more love-filled posts, photos, and updates.

All of these joyous moments and events are enough to drive the single person into a yearlong hibernation, so when it appears that everyone's life is awesome except ours, what do we do to keep the Facebook blues at bay? Here are 5 must-dos to stop the happiness envy:

1. Look at your own pictures:

Remember that old saying - the grass is always greener? Yes, that

Are You In Love? Make Sure to Stay Centered

By Erin Miller for BounceBack.com

Once love knocks on the door it makes you feel alive. It gives you substance, and it makes you feel centered. However, the opening to love is just the beginning, and awareness is the other half.

We all have our reasons for going into a relationship, but the main reason is to continually honor yourself while honoring another. This can be a challenge for some, if they are not grounded emotionally and rely too much on the insight of their romantic partner. The key to staying centered is to tune in to your greatest desires. When you are tuned in to your greatest desires, you can freely give yourself away without feeling so much sacrifice.

When you are not tuned in, you think too much about compensation, and that can only lead to disappointment. Another example of not being tuned in is focusing on what the other partner wants to hear

What Happens When You Can't Stand Their Significant Other?

Have you liked every single one of your best friends' or family members' significant others? The answer is presumably "No". Have you always kept it to yourself or have you been vocal about it? Possibly not so quick of an answer. It is a very delicate subject and a difficult situation when dealing with someone who you love.

How is one supposed to handle a friend or family member who is dating someone that no one really likes? Is honesty really the best policy?

To preface this discussion, we want to state that if a loved one or family member is being abused emotionally or physically, this warrants immediate attention and assistance towards that individual to leave this unhealthy relationship.

But what if you just don't like the person? Or if they just aren't "worthy" or good enough for your friend or family member? That's when it gets a bit tricky. If you find yourself in this fragile situation, there are three roads you can choose