Spring is a time for renewal. So why not renew our relationship as we leave the cold winter behind us? There are many fantastic ways to spark romance and intimacy in your relationship; below I have revealed 4 of my favorite ones. They are simple, inexpensive and virtually guaranteed to bring back that lovin’ feeling – whether it is gone, gone, gone, hanging by a thread, or desperate for a fresh breath of creativity or new life!
1. Romantic Date Idea – If you’ve been dating or married for a while, having a romantic date night is sure to bring back the spark. Send the kids to a friend’s house for a sleepover or spend the night at a hotel (my personal favorite, wink). “Hotel dates” are romantic because they seem to add an element of seduction. Whether at home or in a hotel, kick it up a notch and play some games like role-playing or pretending you are strangers. Be creative – this is fun – believe me!
Birthdays are a time for the celebration of life! Our birth is the celebration of the love our parents once shared with each other (regardless of how it played out). So for me, birthdays are all about giving; so my gift for you this week is a gift that is sure to keep on giving.
When couples are experiencing emotional turmoil and dis-connect (regardless of the reason) I always ask the question: “Tell me how you met and why you fell in love with your partner? Couples then pause and look at me in an extremely quizzical way. Almost as if to say: “Hey, I want to tell you what’s wrong with her/him, not reminisce about the good ole days”. (Thank goodness I have a thick skin because believe me, some of these looks could kill!) Nonetheless, I persevere and what follows are some of the most beautiful stories of romance and love you could possibly imagine. And just when I thought I have heard the absolute best story of how and why a couple fell in love – I hear another story that trumps it and on it goes. These incredible stories of love and romance are truly amazing and full of wonderment and joy.
On the heels of last week’s relationship advice ezine – where I blew the doors off of 3 relationship myths – the myth that healthy couples never fight seems to be a very difficult one to get people to stop believing. As I’ve mentioned to you guys many times before, healthy happy couples do fight – but it is the way they fight that makes all the difference in the world. Below are 3 conflict resolution skills that will allow you to maintain love and intimacy in your relationship – regardless of any fights you and your partner might have.
The other day my son was telling me about the training he received when learning to parachute from an airplane. He was sharing with me all the physical and emotional training he received when he asked if I knew the absolutely most important aspect about parachute jumping from an airplane. After a few wrong answers my son finally told me:“It’s the person who builds your parachute that matters the most when you jump from the plane”. My son went on to say that no matter how terrific your training is, or your physical conditioning, when you pull that cord on your parachute, if the parachute doesn’t open – all your training is irrelevant and you are as good as dead.
Many times I have discussed the value of effective communication. Having worked with couples in intimate relationships for over twenty-five years, it is my passionate belief that the way we communicate with ourselves, and others, ultimately determines the overall quality of our lives! No where is effective communication more important than in our intimate relationships; yet, it is still a struggle for many of us.
