It's funny because, often, the smallest things find a way to nourish a relationship. Ask yourself, what can I do to make my partner even happier? It doesn't have to be earth-shattering to be effective. It's the thought behind it, and the emotion in it, that's the real gift:  Work on having a better relationship with your in-laws. Few things are more important for your partner than you having a relationship with their parents. You probably don't see your in-laws every day, but that undersells the importance of the goal: ultimately, they want you to love them like you love your parents. Does your spouse really care about charity? Invest in a microloan in their name, and give it to them as a present. They are now the proud beneficiary of someone else's opportunity. Do things around the house that they normally don't enjoy. If your spouse hates doing the dishes, for example, make them a little "get out dishes free" card, good for a week without dish-duty. It might seem weird, but being open with your spouse is indeed a sign of affection: it shows them that you trust them and, more importantly, that you enjoy being intimate with them emotionally. Being open will reassure them that you're taking that step for them. Why did you marry them in the first place? Express to them why you love and how they make you feel everyday. Do this often. It will lead to good habits, promote more love and affection in your marriage, and reduce amounts of stress.  Write a short handwritten letter. Put it underneath their pillow; as you kiss them goodbye in the morning, tell them to check underneath the pillow. The note could say something like: "Every day I'm with you, I learn even more about how impossibly lucky I am. I love you."  Come up behind them when they know that you're in the same room and give them a heartfelt kiss on the neck while wrapping your arms around them. It'll make their heart melt. Make your own romantic fortune cookie. Find a way to slip a personalized fortune into a fortune cookie your spouse breaks open. Have it read something like: "Only you can make my heart crumble...." Support them in their honest endeavors. Whether it's supporting them when they want to take Latin dance classes or when they want go out with friends, your support makes them feel safe and lets them take calculated risks. When they have nothing else to fall back on, they know that they can count on you to be their rock, their muse, their lighthouse. When your spouse is feeling down, find a way to cheer them up. Bring them breakfast in bed, massage their feet, or rent their favorite movie. Again, small things can have big meanings. It may not be the first thing that you think of when you wake up in the morning, but romance is essential to a healthy marriage. Don't just assume that because you're married, you don't have to try to be romantic with your spouse anymore. Not only is that thought misguided — what if your spouse decided that they didn't have to watch their weight once married? — it also takes some of the fun out of marriage. So be a man and do the manly thing. Be romantic.  Do date nights at least once a month. Some couples manage to find the time to go on dates every week, but once a month is sufficient. Plan a date that evokes a great date you went on earlier in your courtship, or plan a date that gets the blood pumping again: skydiving, whale watching, or a movie, to name a few. Celebrate your anniversary. Your anniversary is really important to your spouse, and it should be to you too. It has symbolic meaning in addition to providing an opportunity to renew your love. Forgetting your anniversary is a big no-no. At the very least, have a dinner planned and a bottle of wine chilled. Keep intimate relations in bed strong. Don't let things dry up in bed, or take things for granted. Seek to please your spouse as much as they please you, and keep exploring their and your own sexuality through one another.
ابحث عن الأشياء البسيطة التي تسعدها. كن منفتحًا في إظهار عواطفك. أظهر لها حبك. كن داعمًا لها. كن رومانسيًا.