Let the games begin

Games. We've all played them. Whether we want to admit it or not, we've all set a trap, planted a seed or fought back eye-for-an-eye style in the world of relationships.

We all want to claim we are better than that. But if he didn't return a call or text for two days, she waits two days to get back to him. And if he felt jealous seeing her talk to another guy, he flirts with another girl in front of her to make her feel what he felt. That's just the reality we live in. Dating makes us vulnerable -- and we hate it. So when our feelings get hurt or we get annoyed, we want to even the score. It's human nature.

Sometimes being a big kid sucks

I never knew I could feel so guilty about doing the right thing.

I know I'm right. My family said I'm right. My friends and my co-workers said I'm right. Then why do I have even one ounce of guilt?

Words that wreck women

"You make me wanna buy a rose/ You make me wanna shine my shoes/ Baby, you make me wanna dance/ Better than I do/ You make me wanna be a man/ Who makes ya laugh and makes ya cry/ Wanna be everything you need/ You make me wanna make you love me"

"'Cause I wanna wrap you up/ Wanna kiss your lips/ I wanna make you feel wanted/ And I wanna call you mine/ Wanna hold your hand forever/ Never let you forget it/ Yeah, I wanna make you feel wanted"

"Light me up inside of this room/ I just wanna be close to you/ I cant take it anymore/ Baby I want you so much/ I wanna feel your breath on my skin/ Find that place we've never been/ I wanna spend all night/ Tangled up/ In your love"

These words, and millions like them, have wrecked women. Music has ruined women. While I am using country as an example — because I am a country girl first and foremost — it really happens in all music. Bono sang about waiting, with or without her. Don Henley sang about forgiveness even if she doesn't love him anymore. Liam Gallagher sang about flying away with his dream girl. But did any of them ever really mean it? Do they really believe a look or a touch can be enough? Or are they just trying to make a woman swoon enough to get into her pants?

Two sides of the same beast

Some cliche somewhere once said there is a fine line between love and hate — that they are two sides of the same emotion.

While I can definitely agree the people that you love are often the very same people who can hurt you, get under your skin and drive you absolutely crazy, I am not so sure how similar love and hate really are. One allows people to enjoy an amazing endorphin high and can potentially make them mushy. The other can eat someone alive and become crippling. But while hatred can drive people to do bad things and act without thinking — punching a wall or a jerk comes to mind — I am starting to believe that anger can be a good thing.

New year, new challenges

The rule for New Year's Day is everybody is supposed to set goals and make grand resolutions to better themselves. People vow to forgive old grudges, take the stairs to work and volunteer to spend time with underprivileged children.

A few years ago, my friend Liz and I made a bucket list for the new year; a to-do list of new things to try before the year kicked the bucket. It worked, too. I got a tattoo, donated blood, chose a college and a major and read more books. When I went back to school, I lost my bucket list somewhere in the move and I haven't picked it up since. I think this is the year to write a new list. And I think blogging about it will help me cross everything off said list. So here goes nothing:

1. Read at least two books a month. I love to read but time isn't always on my side. And since my job consists of reading, I don't always jump at the chance to read during my free time. I want to change that.