According to NPR, today begins International Flirting Week, the week that includes Valentines Day - the high point of the flirting season. Coincidentally, it is also Random Acts of Kindness Week. They go together nicely, don’t you think?

At a workshop I co-lead titled Love, Intimacy & Sexuality, the topic of flirting often comes up. Is flirting the same as seduction? Is it insincere? Predatory? Inappropriate?

According to Wikipedia “Flirting is a form of human interaction, usually expressing a sexual or romantic interest in the other person. It can consist of conversation, body language, or brief physical contact. It may be one-sided or reciprocated.”

My only goal in flirting is to share a smile and a sense of mutual desirability with someone. When I get any response that tells me my flirting is not welcome, I stop, and sometimes apologize for making the person uncomfortable. That’s pretty rare, though. Most of the time the person I’m flirting with smiles, and often flirts back. It’s a momentary event, with no future, no strings. It’s a moment to savor. One of the small delights of being, as one of my friends says, a love-based life-form and a sexual being - surrounded by other love-based life-forms and sexual beings.

And, IMO, it is an act of kindness as well.

Happy Flirting Week!