ou could take more time for visiting friends and having family get-togethers. Find areas of commom interest. Pursue those interests together. Be involved in each other's lives.

Share ideas to find ways to more enjoy living. Tell your sweetheart about strategies you use for such things as achieving goals and enjoying yourself. Tell each other about what you think is interesting, what is worthwhile, and what is encouraging. If you share positive ideas

Romantic relationships happen because of the hopes and dreams a couple has for a happy life together. The romance will continue as long as you believe that the two of you can make each other happy. Make that happiness last by nuturing what is worthwhile and wonderful about your relationship.

Romance has pleasures and rewards: companionship, the approval or praise that your partner gives you, the inspiration to be better and the happiness that seems to just be a part of romance. There are pleasures and there are problems. A few basic strategies can increase the pleasures and lessen the problems.

Don't expect a perfect relationship. Allow some wiggle room for the faults and limitations that you both have - get used to the fact that you'll never get rid of all the problems. Encouraging what is good about the relationship will in general do more good than problem solving. Don't stir up the bottom muck - if you are too concerned with the problems, what is good in the relationship escapes your attention.

If you expect too much, it is more difficult to feel good about the relationship. You will compare how the relationship is to what you think it should be and you will be disappointed. Love and happiness do not require perfection. Love is based on believing that both of you can continue to build a rewarding relationship.

Your attitude should signal the other person that you will patiently work through each other's shortcomings. Being tolerant and non-condemning is a challenge. But consciously making an effort to be tolerant goes a long way.

Build Upon What Is Good --

Find activities that you both like and do them together. Do something such as gardening, cooking, or charity volunteering. Try a recreation activity such as hiking. You might want to spend more time just talking. You could take more time for visiting friends and having family get-togethers. Find areas of commom interest. Pursue those interests together. Be involved in each other's lives.

Share ideas to find ways to more enjoy living. Tell your sweetheart about strategies you use for such things as achieving goals and enjoying yourself. Tell each other about what you think is interesting, what is worthwhile, and what is encouraging. If you share positive ideas,

to just be a part of romance. There are pleasures and there are problems. A few basic strategies can increase the pleasures and lessen the problems.

Don't expect a perfect relationship. Allow some wiggle room for the faults and limitations that you both have - get used to the fact that you'll never get rid of all the problems. Encouraging what is good about the relationship will in general do more good than problem solving. Don't stir up the bottom muck - if you are too concerned with the problems, what is good in the relationship escapes your attention.

If you expect too much, it is more difficult to feel good about the relationship. You will compare how the relationship is to what you think it should be and you will be disappointed. Love and happiness do not require perfection. Love is based on believing that both of you can continue to build a rewarding relationship.

Your attitude should signal the other person that you will patiently work through each other's shortcomings. Being tolerant and non-condemning is a challenge. But consciously making an effort to be tolerant goes a long way.

Build Upon What Is Good --

Find activities that you both like and do them together. Do something such as gardening, cooking, or charity volunteering. Try a recreation activity such as hiking. You might want to spend more time just talking. You could take more time for visiting friends and having family get-togethers. Find areas of commom interest. Pursue those interests together. Be involved in each other's lives.

Share ideas to find ways to more enjoy living. Tell your sweetheart about strategies you use for such things as achieving goals and enjoying yourself. Tell each other about what you think is interesting, what is worthwhile, and what is encouraging. If you share positive ideas

muck - if you are too concerned with the problems, what is good in the relationship escapes your attention.

If you expect too much, it is more difficult to feel good about the relationship. You will compare how the relationship is to what you think it should be and you will be disappointed. Love and happiness do not require perfection. Love is based on believing that both of you can continue to build a rewarding relationship.

Your attitude should signal the other person that you will patiently work through each other's shortcomings. Being tolerant and non-condemning is a challenge. But consciously making an effort to be tolerant goes a long way.

Build Upon What Is Good --

Find activities that you both like and do them together. Do something such as gardening, cooking, or charity volunteering. Try a recreation activity such as hiking. You might want to spend more time just talking. You could take more time for visiting friends and having family get-togethers. Find areas of commom interest. Pursue those interests together. Be involved in each other's lives.

Share ideas to find ways to more enjoy living. Tell your sweetheart about strategies you use for such things as achieving goals and enjoying yourself. Tell each other about what you think is interesting, what is worthwhile, and what is encouraging. If you share positive ideas

ld signal the other person that you will patiently work through each other's shortcomings. Being tolerant and non-condemning is a challenge. But consciously making an effort to be tolerant goes a long way.

Build Upon What Is Good --

Find activities that you both like and do them together. Do something such as gardening, cooking, or charity volunteering. Try a recreation activity such as hiking. You might want to spend more time just talking. You could take more time for visiting friends and having family get-togethers. Find areas of commom interest. Pursue those interests together. Be involved in each other's lives.

Share ideas to find ways to more enjoy living. Tell your sweetheart about strategies you use for such things as achieving goals and enjoying yourself. Tell each other about what you think is interesting, what is worthwhile, and what is encouraging. If you share positive ideas

ou could take more time for visiting friends and having family get-togethers. Find areas of commom interest. Pursue those interests together. Be involved in each other's lives.

Share ideas to find ways to more enjoy living. Tell your sweetheart about strategies you use for such things as achieving goals and enjoying yourself. Tell each other about what you think is interesting, what is worthwhile, and what is encouraging. If you share positive ideas, you will think of each other as pleasant and enjoyable.

Encourage your partner to act and make decisions. Both of you will be able to accomplish more with the other's support and encouragement. When there is a disagreement, be patient. If you need to criticize, offer an attractive alternative rather than a condemnation. Your encouragement likely will produce more good results than will your objections.

Treat yourself well. Take some time to do what you enjoy. Have some fun. Be positive. The good things in life are much more important than the disappointments. Remind yourself often of what you and your partner are doing right.

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Alan Detwiler is the author of the digital book "Date Ideas: Fun Things To Do For Couples" available at www.ebookmall.com/ebook/148779-ebook.htm

He has a web site with a section about fun things to do for couples at www.leisureideas.com/date ideas.htm.