Love and Relationships

We all love to be loved. Love and respect can last longer if both the people involved, work on them. There are different ways of expressing love and emotions. A warm hug can make a big difference if it is offered at the right time. Many people fail in their relationship because they do not work in their relationship after they commit.

Meet the needs

When you are involved in the love and respect, you should know the needs. You must understand what you need from your partner and that partner needs you. It is absurd to fall in love and enter into a relationship when you do not know the needs. The youth involved in the relationship that should talk about your expectations, and then start the relationship.

Care and affection

For any relationship with success, attention and affection is the main requirement. Only when expressed his affection for her love, the other person will be happy. In any relationship, both people must play the dual role of giver and receiver. "Show your love and be loved" strategy can further strengthen the weak links.

Know your limits

Many relationships of love and rest, because couples do not know their limits. Just because you like a person should not be possessive. Persons involved in the relationship are humans and they need space to breathe. People who try to dominate the other person can not last very long in any relationship.
Communication

Communication between partners is essential in love and relationship. In the initial stages of the relationship, both people work and communicate in their relations very much. However, as days pass and when they know they are in the relationship, interest in the communication is reduced. This is where the ratio of men to get a crack in it.

Honesty

Both people involved in a love relationship and expects others to be honest. Take some time and share their feelings with your partner every day. You may be right or wrong, but to share your feelings with your partner builds confidence. If honesty prevails in a relationship, its very difficult for anyone to break that relationship.

The debates and arguments

Sometimes discussions turn into arguments and this leads to a lack of love and relationship. A relationship between two people that will not last long if they adjust to each other. Both people involved in the relationship must be adaptable and work to end the discussion before it becomes an argument. When you are able to achieve this, then you can be sure that their love and their relationship lasted long.

image: thesituationist .files .wordpress .com

Valentine Tips: Economical Ideas for Valnetine's Day

Valentine’s Day sure can pack an unexpected financial punch. And that’s just what people need if they’re still paying off credit-card bills from December, right?

Officials with Huntington Bank in Ohio estimate that many would-be Romeos will spend anywhere from $160 to $400 on this single celebration. That’s fine and good if you can afford it – but what if you can’t?

Bearing in mind that money worries can be efficient and ruthless relationship killers, perhaps the worst Valentine’s Day gift you could give is anything that leaves you grappling with debt and debt-related stress. That said, you don’t have to appear cheap or forgo fun and romance altogether, either. Consider these tips for dreaming up an approach to this year’s celebration that is both meaningful and economical.

1. Get creative when it comes to dinner.
You really don’t have to spend $85 to $250 on a romantic dinner at a restaurant. Why not have a nice candlelit dinner at home? You could even get all dressed up for it. If you know you’re going to be too tired to cook after work on Valentine’s Day, which falls on a Wednesday this year, order a special meal ahead of time and pick it up on your way home.

2. Enjoy a little ambiance.
If you both really want to go out on the town together, you could have coffee or a drink and dessert at an expensive café or restaurant or a dark, romantic bistro. This is a way to savor the atmosphere — and your date — without emptying your wallet.

3. Play hooky.
OK, do NOT follow this tip if your job or your partner’s job is hanging in the balance. But if you’ve racked up some vacation time, or if your employer allows you to take personal days from time to time, why not see if you can take the day off together on Wednesday? Depending on where you live, the two of you could stroll through a park, walk on a beach, go snow-shoeing, take a rowboat or paddleboat out on a lake, or catch a matinee movie. You also could drive to a small town near your home or through neighborhoods you’ve never visited before and search for small, out-of-the-way places to eat or find public parks and open spaces for walks.

4. See some live music.
Check to see whether a university or college in your area is offering any potentially enjoyable concerts on Feb. 14. Performances by the college music department would likely be free or cost a fraction of the price charged by professional orchestras and opera houses.

5. Seek out some silence.
Here’s a potential date idea if you’ve both been stressed out lately: You could wander through libraries and bookstores with coffee shops that encourage browsing. Rediscover passages you love from your favorite books, and enjoy the quiet. (Cautionary note: Be careful not to go nuts buying $25 paperbacks! That could defeat the whole purpose of this tip!)

6. Have low-cost fun with food on Feb. 14.
You can pull out the cookie cutters and make heart-shaped cookies and even cut your lunch sandwiches into hearts. You also can make heart-shaped cupcakes by placing a marble inside each muffin tin on the outside of the paper cupcake cup.

7. Give thoughtful gifts.
Most people stick to the same general gift themes on Valentine’s Day: flowers, chocolates, cards, maybe a piece of jewelry. Can you think of something different that might mean a whole lot more — and maybe even cost a whole lot less? Last November I wrote a 10 Tips column about how to avoid overspending during the holiday season, and that column included a tip about making your own gifts. Such gifts could include cakes, cookies or gift certificates for your services. The gift certificate idea might be just the ticket for you if you’re short on cash but high on love this Valentine’s Day. You could offer to run errands for your loved one, make a nice dinner, clean the house, repair the car or give a massage.

8. Reflect on that flower purchase.
If you’re sure your special someone will be devastated without the gift of flowers, then you probably should get some. But once again, you don’t have to follow the herd. Everyone opts for roses at this time of year, but there are plenty of other gorgeous and neglected (i.e., less expensive) flower varieties to choose from. And red isn’t your only option, either. You also could choose peach, pink or yellow. Another tidbit: Does your partner love to garden and work in the yard? If so, a beautiful outdoor plant that will keep on living might be more appropriate than cut flowers that will quickly fade.

9. Write down how you feel.
Using a package of inexpensive Valentines from the drug store or grocery store — or, for that matter, any kind of paper — you could write out dozens of reasons why you love your mate. Leave the messages all over the house, in both noticeable and hidden-away places. This is a gift that could keep on giving for weeks or months to come.

10. Plan ahead for next year.
If Valentine’s Day is a holiday that matters to you and your significant other, make a mental note of how quickly it can sneak up on you after the big winter holidays in December. Think about realistic ways you can cut back on your spending so you’ll be able to use cash to cover all of the 2007-08 holidays without relying on credit cards and going into debt. Can you cut back on costly coffee drinks, snacks and sodas during your work day? Or maybe put off some discretionary purchases you’ve been thinking about making?

Source: msnbc .msn .com

Valentine Tips: Divorce Prevention

1. Make time to connect lovingly with your spouse every day.
   A couple can significantly improve their chances of marital success by devoting as little as 15 minutes a day exclusively to each other. For instance, choose to go to bed a little earlier and wake up a little earlier, and spend the extra time in bed cuddling, making love, and reaffirming your love for each other. Take time every day to have meaningful conversations with each other; to listen with the same intensity as when you were dating; to touch, hug, and show affection; to tell each other how you feel about your marriage; and to talk about your goals for the marriage and your lives.

2. Compliment your spouse regularly -- both in private and in front of others.
   Even if your partner seems embarrassed or shrugs it off at first, the glow from sincere praise lasts a long time.

3. Love your spouse in the way he/she wants to be loved.
   We often make the mistake of assuming that the things that touch our hearts the most deeply will affect our partner in the same way. For instance, you may think red roses are the perfect Valentine's Day gift, but to your spouse, they represent a waste of money and an allergy attack. If you don't already know, find out what your spouse yearns for, and then deliver it with love -- and no comments about how "stupid" it is to want a cordless drill/a picnic on the living room floor/a tuna casserole, etc. Remember: the best gift is something your spouse wants -- not merely something you want him/her to have.

4. Take care of your appearance.
   Look your best for your spouse: he/she deserves it. Lose the ratty sweat pants or frayed sweater he/she hates so much; you can find other comfortable clothing that aren't a complete turn-off for your partner. This also means taking care of your health .

5. Remain faithful.
   Dr. Finnegan Alford-Cooper studied 576 couples who had been married for 50 years or more; she released her findings in a book entitled For Keeps: Marriages that Last a Lifetime. In her study, she found that 95% of the spouses agreed that fidelity was essential to a successful marriage, and 94% agreed or strongly agreed that marriage is a long-term commitment to one person. And these "lifers" weren't making the best of a bad lot: a whopping 90% of the couples she surveyed said that they were happily married after 50+ years.

6. Do things together.
   Another common factor of long-term happy marriages is that the spouses regularly do things together that they find fun and exciting. Whether that's ballroom dancing, bowling, playing cards, SCUBA diving, or skiing, participate in at least one activity that you both enjoy every week. If you have kids, make sure at least half of these activities are for you and your spouse only.

7. Spend time apart.
   You take a pottery course while your spouse plays hockey; you play bridge and your partner collects stamps. You don't have to love everything your partner loves, but you do have to allow him/her the freedom to pursue cherished hobbies. An added bonus is that separate interests can generate interest between you.

8. Be friends with your partner.
   According to John Gottman -- a psychology professor who claims his research will predict with 91% accuracy whether a couple will stay together -- the key to marital happiness and success is friendship. Some of the most important aspects of this type of friendship are knowing each other intimately, demonstrating affection and respect for each other on a daily basis, and genuinely enjoying each other's company. Gottman based his findings on 25 years of marital research, which he presented in his book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.

9. The Terms of Endearment.
   Top Los Angeles divorce attorney Stacy D. Phillips says flowers, candy, cards, and gifts are all wonderful tokens of love on Valentine's Day, but if you really want your romance to last, you must practice some marriage-saving steps. She advises couples to spell out the basics of their relationship in a yearly contract -- or at least to clarify them. "Most disputes that break up marriages are over sex and money," she says. "Don't let surprises lead to trouble. Marriage is like any other contract: its terms and conditions must be reviewed and updated. Right before an anniversary is a perfect time, and Valentine's Day reminds you to be flexible and that you have to give to receive."

10. Say "I love you" every day.
    This is especially important when you're not feeling the sensation of love; at these times, you have to actively generate it. Saying those three little words, and performing loving gestures, will warm both your and your spouse's hearts.

Source: divorcemag .com

Valentine Tips: Winning Game Plans for Just Us Guys

Let's face it guys; some of us can be pretty "romance impaired." And, when it comes to shopping for gifts? Well, most of us probably rank that right up there with a trip to the dentist.

But, there's a Romeo inside each of us, just waiting to get out. And, Valentine's is our chance to shine. We can melt hearts, even in freezing winter weather. All it takes is a little planning and a phone call or two.

February 14. It's the big game. The Super Bowl of love. You can be a hero if you remember. Forget it, and you could be left out in the cold. So, open your calendar and circle the date. Now, here are a couple of sure-fire strategies that would make even Cupid proud.

The traditional game plan will be to go for Game Day Touchdown. Send flowers, candy, a card, or more, for delivery on Valentine's Day. This strategy can be especially effective for gifts to the workplace, where they can be enjoyed by the recipient -- and envied by others -- during the workweek. But, half the guys in America will have the same brilliant idea. So, play it safe, order the week before. And, remember, there will be a lot of Valentine's gift deliveries that day - some in the morning and others in the afternoon. So, a thoughtful phone call, e-card, or romantic email message in the morning is definitely a great idea, too.

Another strategy is the pre-game Romance Blitz. Send her a card a few days early. Treat her to a romantic dinner that night. Place candies on her pillow the second evening. Then, surprise her with flowers the day before Valentine's, so they will be enjoyed more throughout Valentine's Day. The first card might say "I Couldn't Wait Till Valentine's To Say I Love You," or "I Can't Think of Anyone I'd Rather Spend Valentine's Week With Than You." Eat your heart out, Cupid!

You don't have to spend a lot. A little creativity and thoughtfulness goes a long way. But, don't wait. Call your florist, make that reservation, or pick up that special gift today. Because, Valentine's only comes once a year.

And, you don't want to miss it.

Source: 800 florals .com