Relationship Tip of the Week: ADD SPARKLE

[Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist]

Sex and the City 2 made a good point; relationships need sparkle for the duration of the relationship, not just during the initial infatuation phase. Although snuggling together at home while watching a good movie is wonderful and even romantic, most couples would never have fallen in love if their dates had consisted only of cuddling in front of the television and eating take-out food. We can’t expect to keep love alive if that’s the extent of the romance as the relationship evolves. We need to add sparkle.

One of the reasons we fall in love is because we are doing things that make us feel alive again. There are lots of ways to add sparkle – plan something that evokes adventure or fun, add an element of romance to anything you do, do something surprising, re-invent the things you did together initially, and plan a good old-fashioned dinner date no matter how long you’ve been together. Until June 14^th, there’s the perfect opportunity to add some sparkle with Savor Sarasota. Make a dinner reservation, get dressed up, share bites of each other’s three-course meals, play footsie under the table and instead of talking about the kids or work, talk about what you are going to do to each other when you get home. Now that’s sparkle!

Amy Warren is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Master Certified Relational Life Therapist. She counsels individual and couples in her private practice in Sarasota and nationwide by phone.