Julia and Sarah Braverman, who hang out for girl's night. (Image: NBC.com)

The scene: Sarah (Lauren Graham) walked into her lawyer sister Julia (Erika Christensen)’s office and announced she had a new plan. This is what Sarah said:

“I made a New Year’s resolution, one I can really keep. I have decided, I am never going to date anyone. ever. again. Right? Because I want to have fun this year, and my relationships are not fun. Ergo, to wit, don’t have any. (I’m using a little legal jargon there for your comfort.) I’m gonna do fun things. I’m gonna go to museums and, uh, you know, read more. I’m gonna have a girl’s night out with my sister.”

The girl’s night out ended up being a funny wine-fest in (followed by a morning in the kitchen that made me laugh out loud when Sarah said “We’re flavored-coffee-drinking losers!”). And Sarah didn’t change her feelings about dating during the episode. So what did I like about it?

I liked the wise idea to take the focus off of dating for a minute. The way I see it, your path toward love isn’t about the guy or girl you want in it; it’s about you. Don’t just find three people who will go out with you and schedule some quick dates for next week; instead, make sure you’re in a place where you are mad happy with who you are and excited about the prospect of sharing your awesome life with someone before you go on those three dates!

Sarah was just burned by love and may not be able to come at dating with an open mind just yet. But she has a great idea here. If you’re not wildly in love with your life yet—if you’re not giddy about the person you are and certain that the right guy or girl will be lucky as hell to be with you—then find a way to fall in love with your life. Do fun things. Go to a museum. Read more. Knit. Box. Mountain climb. Dance. Learn Italian. Volunteer. Go out with your friends to places you’re not likely to meet someone (uh, senior citizens Bingo night, anyone?) so you don’t feel the pressure to work it.

Find a way to feel damn great about who you are and what’s coming down the pike in love and you’ll attract your half-orange faster, and be ready as ever for them when you meet.

Right? Is there anything you can think of that you could do this week that would make you feel happier with your life? What would make you feel so proud of you, you couldn’t wait to date a great person to tell them all about it?

You might also like:

8 Reasons to Go Out Tonight!

Big love,

Peggy needed a branding lesson (Image: Carin Baer, AMC.com)

Peggy, a mostly straight-laced, hardworking advertising copywriter was trying to paint a plainly honest portrait of herself in an ad requesting a roommate in Manhattan. But it took Joan Holloway, the smartest secretary in the office, to point out, really, who gets excited about a plainly honest anything? Joan plucked the typed ad from Peggy’s hands and read it aloud. 

“Clean, responsible, considerate…I have some nice furniture and a small television?” Joan felt Peggy needed to put a more self-confidant spin on her qualities, to sell herself more in her ad:

“This is about two young girls in Manhattan. This is about an adventure. Am I wrong? If this were me, I would say something like, ‘Fun loving girl. Responsible, sometimes. Likes to laugh, lives to love, seeks size six for city living and general galavanting. No dull moments or dull men tolerated.’ Or something like that. And don’t put it up there. Everyone here knows you. Branch out.”

Same Peggy, same request, entirely different sell.

WWJS: What would Joan say? (Image: Carin Baer, AMC.com)

Joan’s right. We’re not doing ourselves any favors by painting the blandest portrait of ourselves we can, as honest as we may think we are. Sure, “smart, nice, successful and kind” may be good qualities, but you’re more than that! Re-brand yourself the way Joan Holloway might. Ask yourself this one question: WWJS? What would Joan say?

She might remind you that you’ve got a killer bod, a stellar wit, or a warmth worth traveling a thousand miles to be near. If so, start feeling it! How else are people going to see the fabulous person you are if you don’t sell yourself that way?

Re-brand yourself in the best light, the one you deserve to be in. No dull descriptions tolerated.

Big love,