John Gray Goes To A Chick Flick

By John Gray from The Mars & Venus Diet & Exercise Solution

One Sunday afternoon, I took my wife, Bonnie, to see the movie The Bridges of Madison County. This was definitely a chick flick.

As an expert on gender differences, I thought that since this was a book that millions of women had read, I should at least see the movie. I also knew it would put my wife in a great mood for later that night.

The theater was packed with women; two other men were also there. There wasn't an empty seat.

A few minutes after the movie started, there was a bustling noise of purses opening as the women searched for tissues. Some were already starting to cry in anticipation of the moments when they would cry again. For the women in this theater, this movie was a love fest.

I was also set for a good experience. After all, Clint Eastwood was the lead Martian. He is a reliable action figure. He wouldn't let us fellow Martians down.

Five minutes after the movie started, I began to get tired, and I wasn't tired before I went in.

Just watching this movie, with no action and all talking, was wearing me out. My eyelids were getting heavier and heavier. I couldn't believe it. I looked around, and all the women were completely attentive and alert. They looked like men watching an action film.

For these women, there was a lot going on. They were already wondering what he was going to say, how she was going to respond, what she was thinking, what he was thinking, what was her husband going to think, how she felt about her husband, would she leave her husband, would Clint stay for her, was he finally going to settle down, what her fears were, was he afraid of intimacy, could she heal his broken heart, what was her life like up to that moment, what would her life be like if he left, what would happen to her marriage if they kissed, did he want to kiss her, would he make the first move, would she make the first move?

Such suspense, such excitement, such a buildup. I looked over at the two other men, and they too were falling asleep.

For the women, a lot was going on, but for the men, nothing was happening.

At a later point, as I struggled to stay awake, I suddenly got a second wind. It was as if I had just eaten some ice cream or drank a cup of coffee. My energy was back. What had happened? Well, something finally happened in the movie. Clint got in his truck and drove to the bridges.

But when nothing happened there, my fatigue was back.

At the end of the movie, Clint Eastwood got in his truck to drive off into the sunset. I suddenly awoke from my slumber. As I looked around, more tissues were being passed out, and my wife's face was glowing with oxytocin. Once I had the opportunity to leave the theater and get in my car, my testosterone levels would recover. With the glow on her face and the increasing testosterone levels back in my body, we had a very nice evening.

Sleeping through The Bridges of Madison County is a great example of how a man loses his vitality and a woman doesn't when oxytocin and serotonin levels rise and testosterone levels drop. Action movies stimulate dopamine and testosterone for men, while talking, caring, and sharing movies stimulate serotonin and oxytocin for women's bodies. When movies have both ingredients, both men and women are drawn to them.

If a man has higher levels of testosterone from his diet, he can make the drive to the bridges of Madison County without falling asleep. Years later, with normal dopamine and testosterone levels, I can now easily make this drive and enjoy every minute of the way.

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God bless your family and your marriage.

Jim Stephens