When it comes to women, I get it. From an early age, I have always known how to express my feelings in a way that was both crystal clear, and that spoke directly to the sincerity by which they were said. I have that down pat. It’s because of this gift that I often find myself growing increasingly frustrated when I’m unable to express the love that I have for God with that same level of conviction.

I was often told that a picture was worth a thousand words. But as I’ve gotten a little older and a tad bit wiser, I’ve come to realize that powerful imagery is worth so much more than those thousand words … especially when it speaks to the very pulse of your passion for another person.

“Never apologize for something that wasn’t your fault.” I can still hear my father’s voice as he tapped into his inner Mr. Miyagi, while grooming me into the karate kid that I am today. I appreciated that valuable life lesson, as it’s served me well along the way—particularly as I navigate the sometimes rocky terrain of the entertainment industry.

I get asked all the time to share my wants and needs when it comes to a woman. Up until this point, I’ve typically declined such a request (I’ve never really been a fan of letting too many people into my business.) Today though, I’m in a sharing mood, so I’ve decided to share my “list.” The following is an up-to-the minute itemization of what I desire in a woman.

I can’t lie … over the course of my life, I’ve experienced my fair share of pregnancy scares. It didn’t matter if it was a long-time girlfriend or the girl I met at that “A-Team” fan convention, the fear of an unwanted pregnancy is still the same—regardless of my relationship with the woman.

I was raised to fear nothing but God … it didn’t matter what it was—man, woman, lion, bear, or J-Lo singing acapella—my mother and father instilled in me an understanding that there was nothing on this earth capable of invoking real fear within me.

It’s been a while since I’ve indulged in a one-night stand. Truth be told, when I started hearing about flesh-eating STD’s capable of devouring your entire body in 33.4 seconds, I decided to leave the one-nighters to you more adventurous types (I’m kidding, but not really.) Just because I’m officially out of the game though, doesn’t mean I can’t still acknowledge this as a big part of some of your dating realities.

Lord, grant me the strength to always honor my gift of self-expression. But if I ever fall short and it’s taken away, I pray that I’m still able to learn from the thoughts and honest expressions of others—particularly as it relates to love and relationships.

It’s a beautiful day, which means it’s also a beautiful opportunity to learn more about the main thing that binds us together on this website—our desire to understand and appreciate love.

Looking back over my relationship resume, I can safely say that I’ve done my fair share of things that have caused me embarrassment in the name of impressing a girl.