**Agree to Agree.  It is important to understand that relationships seldom feel easy; however, a relationship is less of a struggle when two people agree to do whatever it takes to make it workable. This does not mean "giving it your best shot and if it doesn't work, you move on." This means doing whatever it takes!

 

            **Memories last a lifetime - So can your love life. Create a love scrapbook. Stash your memories of special greeting cards, matchbook covers that remind you of great visits, snapshots, a pressed flower, ticket stubs, a handwritten love poem, a funny, thoughtful valentine.

 

            Celebrate spending time together living out a life’s dream.  If you have always wanted to see Whitney Houston in concert, go!  Save the concert tickets and program and frame them as a life long memory the two of you have shared.

 

            **Spread a little sunshine.  Give each other permission to their own space.  Nothing grows well in the shade!  If you are forever in your loved one’s pocket, you can stifle the love so freely given. Even love partners need time alone. You need space. This is another way to love yourself, first.

 

            **Call the love doctor.  A lack in your love life is nearly always a symptom of something that needs fixing in the relationship.  Work on being more attentive, thoughtful and creative in expression of your love and your love life with come alive again.

 

            **Go on a date with your partner.  Even relationships that are old-hat need new juice! Once every week plan to spend some quality date time together. Enlist a trusted friend to stay the night with your kids and head for the “ten buck a night motel.”  Relive those olden days when you really lit the fire.

 

            **Practice volume control when talking.  A quiet loving voice is respectful and will get you more of what you want, more often.

 

            **Push your partner’s hot buttons - Push them spontaneously. I'm not talking about the ones you shouldn’t push. Push the turn-on buttons. Know what delights and pleases your partner and push those buttons often.

 

            Pay special attention to do this. Often a warm and tender hug, a kiss on the back of the neck or an unexpected massage is all it takes to get those home fires burning again.

 

            ~~Remember that your love life is something that needs to be worked on all the time and not only when it is broken and needs to be fixed.

 

 

            **Practice Prevention - Don't allow your relationship to slide into oblivion. Look at your love life as an active, breathing thing.  Life needs to be refueled and taken care of.  Look at the many ways you can actively prevent your love life from sizzling out.