Until I hit 40, I always thought flirting was harmless. By nature, I'm a pretty shameless flirt...but with everyone. Man, woman, child, dog. There was never any intention behind my flirtatious ways--in fact, when (even still) I'm in the beginning stages of "feelings" with a guy, I freeze up & am suddenly super nerdy with 0 flirting game. Yet, something shifted with 40...I still retain a fairly youthful appearance, but I see twenty-somethings doing this same thing with friends' husbands or guys I date, and I feel like I've learned the same lessons you've shared here. And I'm deeply ashamed of younger me