While some couples argue and fight when they are in a car for more than a few minutes, others can learn to cultivate a loving relationship built on the foundation of goals and dreams. When couples plan something exciting together, they create momentum. As they prepare, plan, and ponder, they build connection, cohesion, and communication skills. Each time you plan, and then follow through, you build memories within your relationship. We need the positive memories to keep love alive.
Below are some action plans to deepen your love for each other:
Plan discussion time.
Set aside time to talk about trips you’d like to take. Something magical takes place when a couple shares their travel desires. Listen carefully to what your partner says about the places they want to visit. Both partners capture the essence of one another’s excitement or dream trip. As you watch your partner’s sparks of curiosity and interest, see if you match what they feel. If you both agree on the destination with the same motivation and enthusiasm, get the plan books out.
Share hopes.
As the time for your trip draws nearer, bring it up as a topic of special conversation between just the two of you. Ask what your partner is looking forward to the most. Share what you’re most excited about.
- Half of the joy you feel about the trip occurs before you actually take the journey.
- Make the time leading up to your trip one of intimate conversation.
Research romantic locales.
If you take the time to research specific locations at your destination, you’ll be able to plan ahead and not get stuck in limbo once you arrive. Include some extra-sizzling sites on your itinerary. Romantic experiences can provide the most memorable moments of your trip.
- If you’re traveling to an ocean side city, plan a morning or evening walk on the beach.
- Restaurants on the bay or lake also provide an atmosphere of connection. Water, fire, and candlelit dinners revive the romantic side of partners. Plan at least one romantic dinner. Find a restaurant with a flair for romance, like a private dining room, foods you eat with your fingers, or soft sofa seats made for cuddling.
- And what’s more romantic than a night out in Paris with the lights of the Eiffel Tower glistening?The beautiful backgrounds add a dimension to your trip. You can take a photograph you’ll both cherish for years to come as you recall the wonderful experience.
Write a love note.
Express your thoughts and feeling in a romantic love letter to your partner. In anticipation of your trip, write words to express your love to your partner. Compose a poem, buy a greeting card, or simply profess your love in a detailed letter. If you’re an artist, you can even include a picture you sketched.
- Present your “love letter” to your partner the night before or the morning you leave for your trip.
- Start off your trip with a great romantic gesture, buy a special perfume or outfit for the trip and share give it to your partner.
- If unsure of the size, buy a gift card the week before the trip so your partner can pick out a new outfit, shoes, or other accessories. The same for your male partner, you can get him a gift card for a new jacket, shirt, or tie for the occasion.
Couple’s Time
Schedule in couple’s time in the hotel. Being alone together in a hotel in an exotic locale will allow you to relax and enjoy each other. Even if your limitations of travel mean you are in the same town, you can plan couple’s time in a hotel with a buffet, spa or so forth.
Spend the time relaxing, leave work at home, and bring a good book to read, or watch a movie together. Keep your phone on mute, set it aside, and let anyone outside of your relationship say outside for the night.
- You do not have to answer every, single text for a night or two.
Plan a week-long trip.
If you are able to do it every year, strive to have a week-long trip alone. Consider yearly trips to be necessary relationship maintenance. If you’re unable to spare the time or money for a week, then shoot for a long weekend. Continue to rediscover what’s special about your partner.
We get caught up in our professions, or hobbies and forget the emotional connection we can have with our partners. Use the time to dream, plan, and execute the trip with kindness, hope, and romantic connections.
Pause and make eye contact.
Focus on making frequent eye contact. The eyes are the window to the soul.
The great Roman philosopher Cicero also said, “The face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are its interpreter.” (Dr. Jeff Benjamin).
View every moment of your partner’s reaction to seeing the destination for the first time. If you’re returning to a favorite place, there’s likely some sort of magic there for you.
- Plan on staying in tune with the love of your life on this trip by gazing into their eyes and renewing the love you share.
- If you’ve had some complications in your relationship, start slowly. Capture eye contact with your partner. Smile often.
- Let your partner know what you in their eyes, and express your love for them, in a genuine way. Afterwards, follow through by treating your partner with kindness even when you might feel slighted. The genuine, gentle approach helps to restore lost connection.
Create a surprise
Take the time to plan a surprise for your partner. Unexpected pleasures are often the best part of travel. Plan a special dinner your partner doesn’t know about or go on a surprise shopping spree. If no stores are near you, plan on bringing a special something for your partner.
- Be spontaneous! Even walking around a farmers market in the morning in San Francisco or visiting a sacred place can be a truly awesome experience.
- Bring a necklace or other special items wrapped and stored carefully in your suitcase.
- Take your partner to gift shops in the town, and if their eyes light up on something, purchase the item as a surprise gift.
Log in your moments.
Document your memories with a postcard. Here’s a simple suggestion to keep the wonderful memories alive from the trip. Find a postcard or more, which captures a wonderful memory and mail it to your partner.
- Write something wonderful like, “I’m so glad I got to share this trip with you,” or “I know I’ll remember this vacation forever,” or a simple “I love you more than words can say.”
- The postcard will likely be delivered before you arrive home or a few days later. Your mate will be touched of your thoughtfulness to mail them a romantic postcard during the trip.
- Buy an album for postcards and begin collecting cards for every vacation. Engage your partner to share postcard finds and spend time putting it together.
…
With a little imagination and effort, you can experience a romantic and memorable time with the love of your life. Each time you build a positive memory, you create another measure of hope and love in your relationship meter. Comparable to a long trip gone well, your relationship will become like the trip of a lifetime, one experience and story created together, over time. Trip your way to love this year and every year thereafter.
~Just a thought by Pamela
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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