THE LOVE & LIFE BLOG

welcome to

Remain true to yourself and never settle for anything less than an extraordinary relationship!

Dr. Karin shares lessons learned from her 27 years on the dating scene! Single is the New Black, Don't Wear White Till It's Right.

DATING & SINGLE LIFE

TAKE CHARGE & GET HAPPY

GIRL TALK

ENGAGEMENT & MARRIAGE

FAMILY MATTERS

PSYCH & THERAPY

Make it Happen

Most of you know I’m a big fan of Make it Happen. And some of you know this phrase was one of my dad’s favorites. He used to tell me,...

Want to be happy? Be present.

I don’t meditate. When I try, I get frustrated. I can’t calm the chatter in my mind. So I get irritated and end up feeling like I wasted...

No One Can Offend Me Without My Permission

I didn’t always believe this. Like many of us, I’m a sensitive person. So sometimes when people say or do insensitive things, I feel...

Why You Keep Dating the Same Guy (with a different name)

Sometimes we date the same guy over and over again. Sure, he has a different face and different name, but he’s essentially the same guy....

Get Along With Yourself

We spend so many years battling with the one person who sticks with us through thick and thin—ourselves. Self-love is tricky. We talk...

Follow Your Heart or Trust Your Gut?

We hear it all the time. “Follow your heart.” But should we? And then we’re told to, “Trust your gut.” So which is it? It can be...

It’s okay to be irate, but let’s not get irrational

It’s okay to be irate, but let’s not get irrational. Getting angry and getting irrational often go hand in hand. But they don’t have to....

Better Too Picky Than Not Picky Enough

I used to hear it all the time when I was single, “You must be too picky!” I suppose they were trying to be helpful. But it wasn’t...

The Power is Yours

We gave our heart. We gave our #love. We gave ourselves. We feel as if we lost our #power. But we didn’t lose it. We gave it away. And...

Drama Free Zone

Funny thing, the people who claim to hate drama are always the ones bringing it. Have you ever noticed that people who talk about NOT...

Dating with a Diagnosis

Your Mental Health Status Does Not Define You Sometimes we talk about our mental health as if it's 100% who we are. “I am depressed.” “I...

Playing The Blame Game

Blame others, they have control. Blame myself, I’m in control. It’s so easy to blame. If he hadn’t . . . If she’d only . . . It’s their...

Ghosting Woes - Don’t Act Like a Couple Before You’re Legitimately a Couple

Ghosting hurts. We feel rejected, disrespected, and angry! Legitimate feelings for sure. But I wonder if sometimes we’re also mad at...

Your Story Isn’t Over

Our lives are like novels. And every great novel has several painful chapters. So, when we’re in a dark place and it feels like it’s...

He Kept Toying With Me. And I Kept Letting Him.

Dylan and I dated for 2 years. And he toyed with me for 4 more. But to be fair, I don’t think Dylan meant to mess with my head. He was...

Breakups. The Worst Thing or The Best Thing?

My breakups were always devastating. So much time invested. So many hopes, dreams, and plans—vanished with just one, “We need to talk…”...

You’ll Never Meet the Right One if You’re Searching for the Wrong Reasons

We all want love. But why? Some reasons are great—we want intimacy, companionship, and someone with whom to do life. These are natural...

Sometimes My Relationships Were Hard Because I Didn’t Listen to Maya

My relationship with Dylan started out so easy. But it got harder as time went on. Dylan was chasing a dream—which I encouraged, by the...

Science Says Comparison is the Thief of Joy

One of my all-time favorite quotes is from Theodore Roosevelt. “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I thought about it all day yesterday, as...

Am I Emotionally Unavailable?

Dads Matter

That seemingly benign statement incites a lot of emotion. Some of us didn’t have a dad. Some dads were there but emotionally checked out....

I thought about you the other day and… nothing

I thought about you the other day and… nothing. Dating & Single Life advice from Dr. Karin Anderson Abrell.

Sometimes What The Heart Wants Is Stupid

Self-Talk is Powerful

Self-Talk is Powerful.

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