Indescribable

   You hear the phrase “Life is too short” all the time, but I don’t necessarily agree with that. What I do agree with is that “Time flies by”. Meaning, time moves very quickly, but definitely not to the extent that you can’t tell, or more importantly, show a person that you care about them. Like I stated in a previous blog around the Christmas holidays, you should not wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas to tell a person how thankful you are to have them in your life.

These two poems that I’m posting today are about two of the most important people in my life because I want them to know how much I truly love them.

                                                              

              Superman                                                                                             

You are strong and dedicated.

You love what you do and who you have become.

You are a firm believer that hard work pays off,

and rest is barely ever welcomed.

You do what it takes to get the job done; not right,

but perfect.

You love being needed and wanted, and especially

being around those who love you.

And what do I love the most about my Superman?

You are like no other.

I love you Dad.

               

             The Rock

Your amount of strength speaks volumes.

Devoted and dependable are only some of the

words that best describe you.

You are always there to listen, talk to, laugh,

and to simply be there.

Your pain is my pain and vice versa.

You underestimate your worth at times.

No other mother could compare to you.

You are the best mother and friend anybody

could ever wish for.

I love you Mom.

 

If you have some parents (not sperm or egg donors, TRUE parents) who mean the world to you like mine do, please make sure that you tell them how much you appreciate and love them more often than not. They of all people should never wonder.

Separate But Equal

  The top two reasons behind a couple’s divorce are money and infidelity. In regards to money, you have one or two people in the marriage who: a. don’t know how to handle money (spend beyond their means, gamble it away, don’t know how to balance a checkbook, etc.); or b. people who just don’t give a damn and just spend whatever they make (or don’t make). Debt is nothing to play with and not even remotely cute, because what happens is when you say “I do”, your debt becomes our debt.

What I’m hearing more and more when it comes to married couples is separate and joint bank accounts is the way to go. This seems ideal because each person has their own “play” money to do whatever you want, and then you have the joint account where you can pay bills together, pay the mortgage, plan vacations, have a rainy day fund, you get my drift. I blogged before on how important financial stability is, especially the way the economy is today. Nothing is guaranteed and you cannot take anything for granted. You must have a savings, checking, and a 401k/retirement account. Prepare yourself for the future, not just for the day or the week. And when you consider marriage, plan for your family. It won’t be about you anymore. I said it before and I will say it again, a person who spends before they make or spends more than they make is immature. Plan for the future and plan for the unexpected!

So what did you learn today… before getting into a committed relationship, consider what type of spender you are. Review the first paragraph, and if you are either a. or b., do yourself and your potential partner a favor and do not commit to a relationship. If you are a person committed to a person like this, be very careful and try not to end up as a statistic {close to fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce}.

Light My Fire

   What is romance? How important is it? Romance is the expression of love and one’s deepest desire to connect with another. I believe this to be a fifty-fifty split between actions and emotions. Sure we all know how romantic a bubble bath with rose petals floating in the water is romantic, but the art of romance stems from a person’s inner being or feelings. You have to have the thought behind the action. For example, my Valentine’s blog (“How to Avoid Sleeping on the Couch Valentine’s Day Night”) offered some suggestions on gifts to give the special woman in your life. There’s a huge difference between coming in the house and saying, “Here” and throwing a box of chocolates in your direction, versus setting up a treasure hunt with love messages and a piece of chocolate at every stop. Thought + Effort= Romance= A Happy Couple You get my drift.

Romance is extremely important and a vital way to keep a relationship alive. Without it is like a fish out of water; suffocating and a part of both of you are dying slowly. It is spontaneous. It is special. It is a golden moment that you both can cherish and have that conversation years later saying, “Remember when we/you… “. Don’t forget, ladies and gentlemen, you did something to attract the attention of your mate and to keep them interested long enough to be in a committed, loving relationship, so why not keep that going? Why wait til Valentine’s Day to give your woman something special? Why wait til Father’s Day to let your man know that he’s a great father? We all know that relationships are hard work and require a lot of maintenance to keep it fresh, so why not brush up on your intimacy skills right now.

– Hold a conversation about your personal goals, hopes, aspirations, dreams, and future together as a couple.

– Draw a bath for your mate.

– Slow dance.

– Make out (Yeah, I said it. Kissing is very passionate and also just as important in a relationship. And I’m not talking about “grandma” pecks!).

– Touch.

– Feed each other.

– Use candles.

– Eat dinner minus the television.

– Cuddle.

– Give hugs and hold each other.

Remember that what you put in to a relationship is the same as what you will get out of it, and that relationships are all about give and take. What are some of your ideas? How do you keep your relationship alive and kickin’?