| All couples enter into marriage with the | | | | 7) Go to a romantic restaurant from time to |
| expectation that their passion for each other will | | | | time, not always to a family buffet. |
| endure forever. We believe the statistic that one | | | | 8) Have candlelight dinners at home. |
| out of two marriages in the United States ends | | | | 9) Watch romantic movies. |
| up in divorce will not somehow apply to us. All | | | | 10) Go on a weekend getaway. |
| long-term relationships go through a variety of | | | | 11) Hold hands. |
| phases. Unless you want to be one of the millions | | | | 12) Hold your spouse in such a way that he/she |
| of couples who are stuck in leading dull and | | | | knows you care. |
| exciting lives you must decide to work on giving | | | | 13) Slow dance to music. |
| your marriage the attention it deserves. It is | | | | 14) Send your wife flowers for no other reason |
| possible to keep the flames of passion alive. | | | | than to let her know you love her. (If your wife |
| In the beginning, passionate feelings and romantic | | | | pays the bills, pay for the flowers at the florist |
| gestures seemed to flow without much effort. As | | | | yourself. Do not let the bill come home for her to |
| time goes on, we settle into routines and many | | | | have to write a check for her own flowers. |
| couples forget to do the things that keep their | | | | You might say, "But Mark, we have children and |
| passion alive. You have to be proactive. You must | | | | we are constantly on the go." Here are some |
| make an effort to stay connected. You must | | | | strategies you can implement: |
| make up your mind that you will love your | | | | 1) Make sure the children go to bed at a decent |
| spouse. It is not something that is just going to | | | | hour so you will have time together alone. |
| happen. | | | | 2) If you have teenagers, plan Saturday morning |
| If you want to have a passionate relationship then | | | | dates when they tend to sleep in. |
| you need to invest your time in your spouse. I do | | | | 3) A date does not have to mean dinner and a |
| not believe that we forget how to be passionate | | | | movie. A date can be anything that gives you an |
| towards the one we love. We just do not make | | | | opportunity to concentrate on each other. From |
| it our priority. | | | | my experience, a standard date night does not |
| However, in case I need to jog our memory, I | | | | work well for couples with children. |
| suggest you pull out photographs of when you | | | | 4) Create a romantic atmosphere in your home. |
| and your spouse first met. Study your expression. | | | | This may be as simple as lighting candles or |
| How did you look at him? How did you talk to | | | | dimming the lights. |
| her? Could you listen to her for hours? Did you | | | | 5) Always give your spouse a goodbye hug and |
| comfort him if he was discouraged? Remember | | | | kiss before leaving in the morning. |
| how you carried yourself. Remember how you | | | | 6) When you return home, always greet your |
| used to drive twenty minutes out of your way to | | | | spouse first, even though the children will run to |
| see her for five minutes. Once you have | | | | the door first. |
| recaptured these memories then make a | | | | 7) Say, "I love you " often. |
| commitment to live your today's with your | | | | 8) Save some of your best self each day for |
| spouse in this same manner. | | | | your spouse. Do not give them the leftovers. |
| Let me share some more strategies on how you | | | | 9) Look at old photographs and reminisce |
| can keep the flames of passion alive: | | | | together. |
| 1) Plan a special day together for just the two of | | | | 10) Respect your spouse even when you |
| you. Perhaps take a day off work to do so. | | | | disagree. Never belittle your spouse, whether or |
| 2) Be playful. Laugh together. | | | | not others are around. |
| 3) Write a love letter to your spouse. Make it a | | | | If you want good health, you must eat right and |
| little unpredictable. Say things you might not | | | | exercise. If you want a marriage that embraces |
| ordinarily say. | | | | passion, you must take the time to enjoy the |
| 4) Take walks together. Consider a walk on a | | | | company of the person you love. I believe that |
| moonlit night. | | | | passion can be recaptured and grow to |
| 5) Take turns initiating affection so that it does | | | | unimaginable dimensions. Decide to be a passionate |
| not always fall under the responsibility of the | | | | spouse. |
| same partner. | | | | Start today. |
| 6) Go on a picnic. | | | | |