Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! May today be full of love and happiness for you and those who are dear to you. And not only today! What if there were some tiny things you can apply to give your relationship new impetus and make those butterflies in your tummy go crazy?
Don't we all want to be admired and appreciated? We're constantly looking for someone that we can share our life and feelings with, and the romantic idea of finding a soulmate is quite common.
But love is more than just a feeling!
A good relationship entails some work as well. This is true for any kind of interpersonal relation by the way - friendship, family, marriage etc. So dive right in, enjoy the article and let yourself be inspired by the universe of love and affection ...
1) Create memories
Do you remember the day you met your darling for the very first time? The last holiday, when you could admire the sunset together? And this one time, when he/she surprised you with homemade pasta? The greatest gift you can give to anyone is your precious time. Shared experiences and memories are what strengthens your connection, so make sure that the daily routine does not extinguish those special moments. Instead, take time for each other deliberately - may this be a weekend trip every now and then, or spending dinner together and telling each other about the day's adventures. Take time for togetherness, and enjoy it fully!
2) Show affection
Everyone likes nice gestures and compliments. I bet your partner does, too. That doesn't mean that you have to call each other five times a day or send countless corny messages to affirm your love. You do not even necessarily have to say those magical 3 words out loud! There are many other ways to let your darling know what you feel for him/her. The only important thing is that you find your way to express your feelings and make sure the other one understands your language. How about a little note on the bathroom mirror to wish him/her a nice day? Or you bring home his/her favorite chocolate after work. A surprise-dinner, or simply running your fingers through the other one's hair ... Say it your way, but say it!
3) Be yourself
The two of you against the rest of the world, how romantic is that? And yet, it is important to not forget the two independent individuals that are part of this relationship. Because if we focus on the "we" too much, we risk to loose the "me" at some point.
Some time apart can actually be very healthy for your relationship, since it makes you miss the other one and it also makes you look forward to the long-awaited reunion. Well, I'm being a little overdramatic here. You don't necessarily need to spend weeks apart in order to sparkle up your relation. How about a night out with friends (and without your partner) every now and then? Or maybe you have different interests and hobbies that you can pursue separately? Simply make sure that love and affection do not transform into some kind of unhealthy dependence. Develop as a couple, but never forget who you are.
4) Communicate
To achieve this kind of sympathetic autonomy, it is crucial to find and maintain a healthy way of communication. Each individual has its own needs and desires, and sometimes, our partner does not think the same way we do or does not have the same opinion. What matters is that we acknowledge and respect these differences, that we are honest with each other and that we try to find a compromise. To do so, we need to seek an open conversation instead of bottling up possible dissatisfaction. Your partner loves you the way you are, and you don't need to be happy non-stop to be appreciated. So if something is bothering you, talk to your partner about it! Even if (or rather especially when) he/she is part of the problem. I'm sure you can find a solution together!
5) Put on the rose-colored glasses
How often do your criticize your partner? When he left his socks on the couch or when her hair is blocking the drain, he forgot your anniversary or she took all the blanket again? The list goes on and on. After the first peak phase, we get used to each other way too quickly and the daily grind takes over control - mostly unnoticed and unintended.
What we can do in this case is to fish out our rose-colored glasses and to put them back on for a little while. Look at your darling and remember what made you so crazy about him/her in the first place. What are his/her greatest character traits, and why exactly did you fall in love with him/her? I'm pretty sure this will open up a completely new perspective and it will for sure raise a smile on your face. Try to focus on all the things that are unique about this wonderful companion and be grateful, instead of making life difficult for both of you by whining and complaining continuously. Let love happen, you deserve it!