What can you do to keep your relationship strong? Here are a few tips.
A serious relationship is a strong yet delicate thing. Respect and kindness go a long way. Conversely, thoughtless acts can push an otherwise good partnership to the brink. What can you do to keep your bond healthy? Here's a hint: the simpliest things are often the most effective.
Love Notes
- Often couples fail to write notes to each other because they get in a routine and seem to forget, but a written declaration of love can go a long way in the busy lives people have. You don’t have to quote Shakespeare, but it doesn’t necessarily hurt. The key to a good love note is being sincere. Telling your partner you enjoyed the casserole they made the night before, or thanking them for installing the light you wanted above the garage is another way of saying you don't take them for granted. There isn’t a person around who doesn’t want to feel appreciated.
Listening
- Having someone who understands you can be the most comforting thing of all. Is there any better way to show you care than by simply remaining silent while you listen to what your partner is telling you? Perhaps they want to lament about their day or just complain about the way their best friend has treated them. No matter the issue, simply using those two ears God gave us goes a long way.
Small Gifts
- “Small” is the key word here. Giving your partner a tiny gift that means something extraordinary to them will touch their heart in a way no showy object ever could. Bake them their favorite cookies, pick up that book by their favorite author, or even give them a little trinket that symbolizes a trip you both took or a movie you saw.
Paying Attention to Things They Enjoy
- Mention that new CD that’s coming out or the DVD they’ve been waiting to see. Or suggest they try out that golf course that just opened or spa that recently underwent renovation. You don’t have to buy your partner the item of his or her desire, sometimes it means just as much to acknowledge that you’re paying attention to the things they like. It shows them you are thinking about more than just yourself.
Hug, Kiss, and Touch
- Intimacy involves more than just sex. When you’re close to someone, showing physical affection in small ways like a hug after a long day or a kiss while you’re waiting in line for a movie can reaffirm how much you care. You don’t have to engage in major displays of affection, but simply holding your partner’s hand as you enter a store or touching their arm as they tell you about their dreams or concerns is a simple way to show you care.
Have an Attitude of Gratitude
- When people feel taken advantage of, they also feel unloved. So show your partner you care by simply thanking them for the little things they do. Don’t wait for the big moments, but instead say thank you when they set the table, make dinner, take out the garbage, or open a door for you. Show your partner every day that you are grateful for your relationship, and they’ll in turn do the same.
The copyright of the article Kind Gestures of Love in Dating is owned by Cherie Burbach. Permission to republish Kind Gestures of Love in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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