1. Express your gratitude daily. Relationships bring a certain comfort in your life. Especially long-term relationships. And while this feels good and takes the whole “where is this going” pressure off, it’s also the reason why in most cases, people take their relationships for granted. We get used to what we have and as time passes we start overlooking the things our partners do for us. We no longer perceive their acts of kindness as wonderful surprises, but as something that we are used to seeing every day. This is why most relationships fail. It is time to count your blessings.
2. Hug them every day as much as possible. Hug them. Kiss them. Cuddle with them. Squeeze them. Tease them. Be around them. The more, the better. Relationships are nothing if you don’t invest in them. And let me tell you something. Words are not enough. Words will never be enough. You can tell someone you love them 5 times a day, but if you don’t make sure to express love through your actions, it’s all for nothing.
3. Make date nights a habit. Make it your thing. You don’t have to date each other every single day. I mean, let’s be honest, even if you wanted, you couldn’t. But you can choose one day of the week and reserve it for some quality night out. It’s doesn’t seem like you are doing much, but I guarantee you that you will have the best time ever.
4. Remember the little things that make your partner happy. To do this, you need to be able to listen. You need to pay attention to what they share with you, what matters them, what brings them joy, and what makes them tear up. You’ll be surprised how little things can have such a big impact on a person. There is no better way to prove someone how much they mean to you than remembering all of those details about them.
5. Learn to apologize when you’ve made a mistake. Know when it’s time for you to stop talking and say I am sorry. Know when you’ve made a mistake and be kind enough to do whatever it takes to make things right again. This doesn’t mean taking the blame for everything, but rather deciding which battles are worth fighting.
6. Respect your partner’s boundaries. And make sure they respect yours as well. Being in a relationship doesn’t mean forgetting who you are. It doesn’t mean letting go of your identity. Every person deserves to have their own time, their own space, their own privacy. Knowing each other’s boundaries and respecting them is the key to a long-lasting and happy relationship.
7. Let the past stay in the past. What happened in the past should stay there. Your relationships and past experiences do not define you. You are what you’ve chosen to be. And right now, you’ve chosen this life. You’ve chosen your partner, this new relationship, and this life. Focus on making the best of them. Focus on the present moment. Anything else is irrelevant.
