*Thursday, February 12, 2004*

How To Be A Better Couple
> 10 steps to enjoying each other better...
>
> 1. Be realistic about each other.
> Don't try to turn ur partner into something
> he or she is not. Let's face it, guys-there's only 1
> Pamela Anderson in the world, and even she has had
> her implants removed! Give ur gal a break and
> understand that her physical appearance is NOT going
> to change overnite with the help of a few facials !
> or treat ments. And ladies, Brad Pitt has already
> been taken, so u're gonna have to do with what ur
> guy is like! Chill out, love each other for what u
> are. There is more to ur partner than what meets the
> eye.
>
> 2. Always talk things out.
> Now guys, I know this is not ur fave pastime
> or mode of resolving issues, but u know what? This
> works with the gals. Don't make assumptions about
> each other's feelings. Learn to xpress urself better
> so that ur partner undrstands what u're angry about,
> or hurt about, or even happy about! When u stop
> talking to each other from the heart, it's the
> beginning of the end.
>
> 3. Do stuff together.
> Make an effort to do things together. Do
> some sports or involve urselves in some shared
> activities; something both of u enjoy or are
> interested in. It could be as simple as watching
> movies together, or jus strolling hand-in-hand down
> Orchard Road. Watch soccor with him once in a while
> though the green patch on TV puts u to sleep in 3
> seconds. And guys, do give in if ur gal asks for
> another day at window-shopping, rather than suggest
> that she go out with her girlfriends for "that sort
> of activities" instead. If u're spending more time
> with ur friends rather than with ur partner, it's a
> warning sign that u're drifting apart!!!
>
> 4. Meet each other halfway.
> If he agrees to throw out that rotten
> T-shirt with the "The_Rock" print, u shouldn't kick
> up much of a fuss if he asks u to keep ur room tidy.
> There's gotta be a little giving and taking in a
> relationship, so learn to meet each other halfway.
>
> 5.Show ur love
> Buy her flowers or candy or perfume everynow
> and then, even if u have been together for 5years.
> It's wonderful to continue showing someone that u
> care for him or her. Cook him a special meal, paint
> him a Valentine's Day card. Knit him mini-socks he
> can't wear ( like for decoration purposes => ), buy
> him a packet of milk for breakfast, or pack his
> wardrobe for him...so he knows u can still be
> romantic and loving despite having been together for
> quite a while.
>
> 6. Respect each other.
> Stop making jokes about her hair or skin, or
> whatever it is u love to laugh at. Ask urself if she
> thinks if its funny. And if he has an inferiority
> complex about his height, stop ogling at tall guys
> and make him feel worse! Love is about respecting
> each other's feelings and being sensitive to each
> other at all times.
>
> 7. Bury the past.
> Stop bringing up the past. Gals..don't bring
> up the happy things about u and ur ex to ur guy, it
> would jus make him jealous or unhappy. And guys,
> don't talk about the happy times that u had with ur
> ex or mention about her in ur every other sentence
> as it would make ur gal feel un-happy and she might
> think that u saying all this b'cos u are gonna get
> back with ur ex or not interested in her anymore.<
> /P>
>
> 8. Sit on ur jealousy.
> All of us go thru' spells of insecurity at
> the beginning of the relationship, but don't
> translate that insecurity into jealousy. If u're
> gonna go through ur partner's mail and cupboard, and
> eavesdropping on conversations, u know something is
> wrong - with u!!! Jealousy is like a poison that
> slowly spreads thru' the relationship before finally
> killing it. Trust ur partner; love has to have trust
> in it.
>
> 9. Keep ur commitments to each other.
> If ur partner is standing u up all the time
> and cancelling dates and breaking promises, u need
> to talk! If u're in a relationship, make ur partner
> ur priority and don't disappoint them if u can help
> it. It's really terrible when someone promises to
> take u to dinner, and then calls to cancel it. Don't
> make promises u can't keep. If ur partner starts to
> feel that he/she is not important enough to u, u may
> jus lose him/her.
>
> 10. Be honest.
> Honesty is not scowling at how awful she
> looks first thing in the morning, or telling him
> that he has the biceps of a fly~! When we say "be
> honest", we mean expressing ur feelings clearly, not
> being bitingly cruel. When u're hurt, say so, and
> when u're angry, tell him/her, w/o getting
> hysterical. If u can't be honest with ur partner,
> who can u be honest with? f Love is also about
> honesty, and a relationship where no honesty exists
> probabl! y isn't worth it!