5 Ways to Add Excitement to Your Relationship

By EqualityinMarriage.org

If you've been together for years, chances are you're missing that spark. Here are 5 ways to add some zest to your partnership. Tomorrow there will be 5 more.

1. Be Cheesy

Think like a kid in love and come up with an idea that brings some of the "warm fuzzies" back into your relationship. For example, decide that every Tuesday is "new restaurant day" and that you will meet for lunch at a different location. Or, make every Thursday "dessert night" and take turns picking up a decadent treat to enjoy together after the kids have gone to bed. Be cheesy and create fun moments you can both look forward to when things get hectic.

2. Make a Deposit the Relationship Bank

When we think about our checkbooks, we realize that if we keep spending, deposits must be made. Yet too often we don't think about all the things our partners do for us, and so we forget to put something back into the "relationship bank." Spontaneously tell your significant other that you'd like to make a "deposit" back into the partnership, and what task or favor you can perform to show your appreciation.

3. Buy an Odd Gift

We often forget that gifts are supposed to express something. Whether it is for a holiday or just a nice gesture, think carefully before buying a gift. Skip the coffee pot or the tie and buy something unusual. For example, if your partner loved Big Bird as a child, pick up a Sesame Street lunch box or toy. Buy a biography of his or her favorite movie star, or find an item that is connected to a past experience you shared together.

4. Remember "Please" and "Thank you"

Your mother always told you to say "please" and "thank you." Just because you and your partner been together for years doesn't mean common courtesy doesn't apply. Don't assume that your partner knows how much you appreciate the work he or she does -- say the words. And take time to say a proper "goodbye" before taking off for work in the morning.

5. Find a Theme Song

Sometimes a song says it best. Whether it's a high or low point in your relationship, you've probably been in the car and heard a song that perfectly reflects what you are feeling. Take time to swing by the record store and pick up a copy you can share with your spouse.

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God bless you and your family,

Jim