@Lynx nkaf its a funny thing. Appearance is everything at first as the guys have all said.
Men like trim women with good skin, healthy long hair and a good sense of style. Hygiene is a big deal, especially scent. Men love a little perfume, makeup that enhances your beauty and jewelry/clothing that makes a statement about how you carry yourself & look after yourself.
Instead of a super self sufficient attitude where men are concerned you are better to adopt a “graciously accepting” attitude and a grateful attitude where you are thankful for the help & assistance men offer you. You seem to have such an attitude in your replies here...
That’s the right attitude. Atom Smasher is correct about interrupting. Men *hate* that...even though they are guilty of it themselves at times.
I think patience and listening ability are valuable to men. Men tend to confide more in a trusted female than they do to other men often times. My BF has told me some stories over and again. I simply listen and do not interrupt. He needs to feel heard, even when he doesn’t realize he’s repeating himself. It’s a simple thing...but he feels heard and that’s important.
Being pleasant company is also very important. Have standards, hold to them, but be pleasant to be around. Defer to him and let him lead and make decisions as much as possible. You’ll find if you do this a good man will solicit a trusted woman’s opinion and will consider her input carefully.
But your physical presentation comes first. Men are visual and appreciate a youthful look. Believe me I know it takes work as you get older. But hiking is amazing as is lifting or even working out with stretches at home during this virus thing.
Get your hormone profile checked. As we age our hormones change and that drives our metabolism as well.
I have friends who are “kept” women. They are attractive, pleasant, and they look after their man and his abode as top priority.
Just a few thoughts. Cheers.
This is valuable, thank you!
I am doing some things right, but I'm also doing some things wrong.
It would be in my best interest to go silent on my childfree by choice stark honesty.
I was always taught to be honest, but my preference is in the extreme minority and to my detriment to 'say out loud'
Thanks for the encouragement to get health checked and I want to admit something.
I'm not sure this was an appropriate thread for me to start. Here. On Sosuave.
It could be interpreted as antagonistic or inflammatory. Like I'm 'trying to start something'.
I'm sorry. But my selfperception has been stunted and I feel the disconnect from my femininity as I've tried to deter attention from men so long. Because of working with them laboriously in industrial settings.
I did have an inkling of what's attractive to the man I prefer, but I'm so conditioned to see all men as coworkers that its like I shortcircuit myself.
I reviewed the clothing I currently own and I'm disappointed in the selection.
Mostly work related/workwear type clothing.
I currently only own a few essential oils as scent, heavy alcohol content perfumes just don't suit me if I try the sample at the beginning of the day off from work to experiment.
I did find one that is a roses scent that suits me.
I do have basic makeup with me but its like I forget to apply it.
If I'm receiving inappropriate attention at work(excessive)it changes my workday and it has been something my ex has noticed.
Thus why he encouraged me to display my true age(through not colouring my hair, he also asked me not to wear jewellery and although he seemed fascinated at the makeup I wore only once in the 14 months I knew him, he told me it wasn't necessary with him.)
But I agree, it is a youthful appearance that men seek. Which goes beyond men just instantly deciding to make you a mother figure.
Appearance:
I am working on this right away and with more energy.
Trim and neat and stylish. Then I'll work on the youthful.
Personality:
Not so honest(to reveal the childfree by choice thing and how do I fake liking kids? I always mistrusted meeting female adults when I was a kid, that laid on the saccharin-sweet voice and you could just tell didn't have a maternal instinct towards kids); become more gracious and less attitude; and perhaps, actually hide what I do for a living as the proclamation of selfsufficiency it screams is a turnoff.
I wonder if I interrupt men in speech, I don't think I do but I'm now paying serious attention to noticing if I do.
The incongruency between who I am and who I want to be is vast in terms of appearance. I'm almost discouraged its too vast.
The personality seems easier to work on.
This is valuable, thank you for your observations and input.