Thanking Dates for Time Together
Appreciating parents, co-workers, friends, dates, and partners is key to a mature relationship.
Let's get into examining each of the 'five love languages' previously mentioned. One-by-one articles will come out in the next month regarding each of these.
The five love languages are: Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, Quality Time, and Physical Touch. First we will examine words of affirmation.
This chapter begins by defining psycholinguistics as "the study of the effect of language on personality." The first principle is "Start where you are." What is the current status of relationships in your life with those you care for? The second principle is "Be active, not passive." Choose the active approach and to do something about this! The third principle is "Choose a strategy for loving or expressing love."
The author recommends we end each phone conversation with our parents with, "I love you and I appreciate what you have done for me through the years."
"Words of affirmation are simply true statements affirming the worth of another person." Dr. Chapman next encourages us to apply the principle to our vocation using affirming phrases with co-workers, such as, "You always have such a positive attitude. I appreciate that."
Then Dr. Chapman makes a list of words of affirmations he could say to dates and girlfriends. One example the book gives is, "Thanks for letting me take you out tonight. I really enjoyed our time together."
(WOW, if a man said that to me at the conclusion of a date . . ahhh . . it would be like the choir singing! I'm starting to suspect words of affirmation could be my primary love language!)
Another example is, "I loved the apple pie. Thanks for all the work you put into it."
