Dr. Ruth dishes on sexting, "Fifty Shades" and Valentine's Day
"The worst thing is boredom in the bedroom."
That's just one of the insights from longtime psychosexual therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, who's dishing out love, sex and relationship advice just in time for Valentine's Day.
Dr. Ruth, for one, thinks couples should take part in the holiday, but notes that it doesn't solve "all the problems people have." She adds, "It's a nice way to say, 'I'm happy I have you in my life.'"
Valentine's Day, she believes, isn't just about getting flowers and chocolate for women. Gals should think about getting their loved ones a gift, too. It could be a nice scarf, for instance. Just something that shows your sweetie you're thinking of him, she suggests.
"Even a special meal -- something that says, 'Look we're in this together. It doesn't matter if you follow Valentine's Day or not. [Just something that says] 'I want you to know I appreciate you,'" said Dr. Ruth.
In addition to a little gift or thoughtful gesture, Dr. Ruth says there's another way to liven up the holiday.
"I want them for Valentine's Day to do a different position in bed," she said. "One that they haven't done before...Take out a book...'Sex for dummies.' It could be any kind of book. Do something that is a little bit different," said Dr. Ruth who rose to fame in the '80s with her live radio call-in program, "Sexually Speaking."
In a relationship where things are getting a little bit stale? Dr. Ruth says don't keep talking about it.
"Don't say, 'You're not interesting for me anymore.' Find a new hobby," she advises. "Find something that is exciting to you. It can be skiing. It can be ice skating. It can be anything. Go to the opera. Find something that puts a spark. The worst thing is boredom in the bedroom. Every couple -- even if they like each other -- if they engage in sex every week, same position, same time of the day, it's not interesting. So what they have to do is say, 'Stop.' And start on a new page."
Spicing things up inside and outside the bedroom is the reason Dr. Ruth recently teamed with Clorox for its "Laundry Foreplay" campaign. There are many ways to keep things interesting, says Dr. Ruth, who notes that doing chores like laundry can make you more attractive to your partner.
"For many women, it's actually very sexy...to see their man doing vacuum cleaning, doing laundry," she said. "I want people to use humor when they talk about sex," she said about why she signed on for the campaign.
Not everyone will be spending this Valentine's Day this weekend with one special someone though.
"For people who are alone, I say take that day and say, 'I don't have a relationship right now. By next year I'm going to have a relationship,'" said Dr. Ruth.
Take opportunities to "start a conversation" with someone new. "Sometimes it doesn't lead to anything. That's OK, too. Even in the elevator, find somebody. Sometimes it will lead to dinner together," she said.
"I don't want people to be lonely," she continued. "I would like older people who are widows or widowers to do the same thing. I would like them to take that step of saying 'I'm going to find a new relationship.'"
Dr. Ruth answers more questions -- including what she thinks of sexting and "Fifty Shades of Grey" -- and whether the guy should pay on the first date -- in the videos above.
