Cougar alert: Five benefits of dating a younger man

Alright, ladies -- age is a state of mind. Just ask Jennifer Lopez, Maddona, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, Mariah Carey, Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston or Eva Longaria. These fabulous women regularly date guys younger than them. Perhaps its time to have some more of what they are having.

Alright, ladies -- age is a state of mind. Just ask Jennifer Lopez, Maddona, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, Mariah Carey, Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston or Eva Longaria. These fabulous women regularly date guys younger than them. Perhaps its time to have some more of what they are having.

But you don’t have to be Jennifer Lopez to snare a committed and adorable younger fella. You just have to be open to it. You have to not overlook this fun pool of potential suitors in pursuit of a traditional older man. Men date and marry younger women ALL THE TIME. But, for some reason, people don't seem as accepting of older women dating younger men. But these celebs don't seem to care about that. And neither should you. Here's why:

1 He appreciates you and it’s more about you
An older woman can bring a lot to the table -- emotionally, financially and in terms of general life experience. Younger men can talk to an older woman and really value their knowledge and sense of perspective. Unlike with an older man who is established, has a career, stress and lots of obligations, a younger gentleman will be interested in you. He will be impressed by your achievements and look up to your success. Over time this may balance out but it starts out with you as the accomplished, independent, cool one.

2 He is energetic and wants to impress you
Younger men love to impress. In the presence of an older woman that they are attracted to, chances are their testosterone will get into overdrive. They'll become the best, smartest and most mature version of themselves in an instant. Younger men can have stamina, energy and more general enthusiasm for the activities and social events you enjoy -- dancing, backpacking, surfing, you name it.

3 He is baggage-free
A man, who is single and in his thirties, can be hurt from a past relationship, or if he has never been involved in a serious one he might be suffering from commitment issues. But a younger man is most likely baggage-free. He would have had less time to be hurt and become cynical and so is more open and optimistic about love. This vibe is endearing, honest and encouraging to be around. This sincerity and positivity can also bring out the best in you.

4 He loves to experiment
One of the most fun things about dating younger guys is that typically the younger the man is, the more new things he is excited to try. Just imagine, you could go hiking or do the other outdoorsy things you love! What a cool and different experience from the conventional dinner/drinks/movie dates you'll have with men your age or older.

5 He makes you feel young
We become like the people we surround ourselves with. A younger man has younger friends, pursues different activities and can have a simpler take on life. This in turn will make you feel more like his age than your own. Being around a younger person’s lifestyle can be fun and fresh. You should try it, you know? And if not now, when?