Keeping the romance alive

Love is one of life’s mysteries. No-one knows exactly when, where or how it will hit.

A relationship is something you must work at. Never take each other for granted.

There are three points to follow:

Put your relationship first
Be a partner, not a parent to your lover
Keep the freshness alive

Nothing kills romance faster than boredom.

Putting your relationship first - You have to make time – and keep – a date with your partner. Maybe it means saying no to other family commitments or turning down a work assignment. Everyone seems to have the time to organise getting the car serviced, so is it really that hard to arrange to meet for lunch or a quick coffee somewhere, so you can just sit down and chat without the stress of family and work commitments?

Being a partner – means not trying to convert them into Mr or Mrs Right. Accept them for who they are, what they do. Nine times out of ten, you knew what they like before committing yourself, so accept them faults and all. Don’t harp on petty habits, like leaving the toilet seat up or the cap off the toothpaste. However if you are a partner that does these types of things and KNOW they annoy your partner, is it that hard to comply?

Keeping the freshness alive - means trying new things, going to new places together, recognising when you are in a rut and making the effort to climb out before it caves in. Spontaneity goes a long way. Do something nice (and/or erotic) and unexpected.

This doesn’t mean spending heaps of money. Enjoying a picnic on the living room floor with the lights low can be just as romantic (and sometimes more so), than a dinner out, at least at home you can go for it if the mood takes you – I don’t think this would be appreciated on or under the table at the restaurant.

Reference: Valerie Parv (Romance Novelist)