THE BEST FRIEND VIBE Sex and communication are important factors in a relationship, but they’re nothing compared to loving your best friend. You trust each other so what’s to keep you from giving him the title of best friend? Everything you do together doesn’t have to be sophisticated and elaborate. Find some down time and do fun childish things together like bowling or miniature golfing. The best part about loving your best friend is the security it brings to your relationship. It’s harder to give into temptation or hurt them when you think of them as not just your partner, but your best friend too.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TEASE When you’re around each other all the time, you’re bound to find little things to poke fun at. It might seem backwards but I’m a firm believer in picking on your partner, that doesn’t mean break their spirit down and be a bully, but don’t be afraid to point out some of the dumb shit they do. Think of it like this, your relationship is like a steam valve; long days and bills cause the pressure to build up. Picking on each other releases a little steam before that pressure bursts. Just be sure to keep your jabs in good fun and deliver them with love-the minute the jokes become too personal you’ve entered the fight zone.
SLEEP PEACEFULLY The best piece of relationship advice I ever got was from Brett’s dad, he told me the key to a loving relationship is to make sure you never go to bed angry. It’s impossible to be in a relationship and never have a fight but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something to make it better. If you get into a fight take some time to cool down and process, but no matter what happens before you go to bed say “I love you” and get a cuddle and a kiss. Don’t wait for
him; most guys won’t make the first post-fight move to resolve things because they’re afraid of another blowup. It doesn’t have to mean you’ve solved everything, but it does help.
WRITE EACH OTHER NOTES There’s nothing sweeter than opening up your purse to find a surprise love note. Take a small moment to jot something sweet down for your lover and slide it into his wallet or car. I once opened my planner to find Brett had hidden little notes on random days throughout the year. Doing small things to make your partner feel appreciated is always a good idea. The beauty of writing notes is that it’s free and only takes a few minutes. You don’t need to write a sonnet or spill every detail of your undying love but just enough to make the other person smile.
ENJOY LIFE OUTSIDE While spending every day with your lover is beautiful, you need to maintain outside relationships. When you first started dating you had a life all your own, and you don’t drop it just because you’re in a committed relationship. Make plans with your girls, go on weekend vacations and enjoy your life away from your partner. He’ll appreciate the boy time and you’ll be truly happy to see each other and have fun stories to share. Keeping a relationship fresh takes effort on both parts but it’s not an impossible task. When you find someone who truly makes you feel special it’ll all seem natural and you’ll enjoy taking the extra steps to stay happy.■
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