Valentine’s Day is coming up. While we are currently cruising towards Tenerife, Anke and I have now spent 28 days together on the cruise ship. Lo and behold – our love grows more every day instead of having to rebook to two single cabins after a few days. Because many are wondering: How can we ensure that our relationships remain full of love and joy? So today a few ideas on how to keep our love alive.
One way to keep the love alive in your relationship is to start each day with an appreciation for each other. In the past, that would have been a compliment. It’s best to take a moment right after waking up to appreciate your partner for who they are and what they bring to your life. “Woah, brush your teeth before you talk to me” is perhaps a rather suboptimal sentence. Say or do something nice. This simple gesture helps create an atmosphere of mutual respect and admiration that will affect all aspects of your relationship. If you’re thinking “that fool only brings trouble into my life”, here’s a tip: Focus on the points on the other person that you fell in love with a long time ago. Instead of seeing the three less beautiful things, see the beautiful in the other again. Simple rule: what you focus on will become more.
Another way to keep your relationship full of love is to communicate openly with each other. Be bold in expressing yourself honestly, even if it means addressing uncomfortable words or topics. Open communication allows understanding one another on a deeper level and creates a bond that goes beyond mere words or physical affection. Especially important for you dear men. “Great”, “Good” and “OK” are not complete sentences when asked “How was your day?”
You may remember a saying I like to use in my talks. “If you had done at the end of your relationship what you did in the beginning, there would be no ending”. It’s easy to slip into the routine of a relationship and forget the little things that made them special. Whether you make time for evenings together or give gifts, always think of the small gestures that show how much you care for each other.
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. And if you don’t have a partner right now, give yourself this day and do something that you like. Because at the end of the day you are the most important person on this planet who can be happy. And the better off you are, the easier it will be to meet and draw into your life someone who is also happy.
