Relationship Maintenance

[Loren]

Greetings Everyone!

All of you guys seem like a very nice and wise bunch and I was wondering...

If you're in a relationship now, what specifically do you do to keep it whole or intact? What does your partner do?

[Dave]

Hi Loren

Great question!!

I think there are three areas that make for a great marriage:-

- emotional intimacy: getting to know each other deeply is about understanding what its like to "be" the other person. One great way to do this is to start to share what feelings arise in you in all sorts of different situations. Try to go deep, learning the dark fears as well as the great joys that each of you experience. It's when we learn to be really vulnerable that we come closest.

- spiritual intimacy: for some this may mean prayer, but for many it's more about exploring who we are, and why we're here in the context of the "big picture". Exploring the question "Who am I?" together builds a deep sense of shared purpose.

- physical intimacy: this is about being open and tender sexually and physically. As with the other two areas it has more to do with being vulnerable, and cherishing each other than with any of the "sexual athletics" that some of the manuals suggest. Romance each other, make him aware of how you value each other as man and woman, not just in bed, but all through the day.

On a more pragmatic note - take a browse around the "Health Club" (http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk/healthclub/) - it's packed with resources and services to encourage you to the healthiest relationship you can imagine. Why not:-

-Buy a copy of the Five Love Languages (http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk/books/fivelovelang/) and read through it together.
- book onto a marriage enrichment weekend (http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk/healthclub/servprov/datelist.html) offered by one of the organisations here at 2-in-2-1.

Enjoy!!

Dave