HOW TO MAKE YOUR WOMAN STICK TO YOU LIKE A TICK AND NEVER DO WITHOUT YOU

1.Always be the solution to her problems.
2.If you send her to do shopping never ask for change
3.Always romance her well before giving her good sex
4.Never be too soft on her, women hate men who behave like
women. You must look tough but not too harsh.
5.Give her freedom to do whatever she wants.
6.You should always be ambitious
7.Make sure u make love in your perfect mood and always make
her say ''ENOUGH''
8. Be faithful to her
9. Ensure you love her family and support her.
10. Always be at home if you don't have anywhere important to
go
11. Acknowledge her dressing and figure, make her feel she is
beautiful and trendy
12. Dont be too predictable, sometimes surprise her with a gift.

Will I Ever Fall in Love Again?

A woman pondering the future of her love life
Will I ever fall in love again? This is a question that commonly
comes up in readings, and the answer to this question will always
be the same for everyone who asks me. The answer to the million-
dollar question is ? if you allow yourself to.
People tend to think that everything in life is determined by
destiny, and it's true that a lot of what we experience is brought
our way by the universe. However, when it comes to what is sent
our way, we play a big part in what comes through to us, and what
doesn't come through to us. A lot of it has to do with how open
we are to receiving what the universe is offering us. I'm not talking
about receiving what you want or need. I'm talking about being in
a state that allows your energies to flow freely without much
blockage. Allow me to illustrate this with a common example:
Your boyfriend has broken up with you and you're devastated,
your world has come crashing down and you feel like you'll never
love again. You try your hardest to just suck it up and move on
like so many people are advising you to do. You do your best, but
deep down inside you're still holding onto a lot of the pain from
that past disappointment. Although you're being given
opportunities to be with new people, nothing seems to ever move
forward the way you want it to.
This is a classic case that plays out for many people time after
time, and they always wonder, "Why?" We have been taught from
an early age that pain is bad and that we must avoid feeling it at all
costs. Crying and letting our emotions out are seen as bad things.
So we begin to lose touch with our energy and aren't able to feel
what's going on with it ? this creates blockage. So to answer the
big "why?" above, it's because your energy is being blocked by
past "junk" that you have been conditioned to suppress ? you're
not flowing as you are meant to. By ignoring our energy and only
focusing on the physical, we give up much of the power we have
in deciding the quality of life we live.
So if you're feeling stuck, not just in love, but in any area of life it
would be very helpful to look into healing and contact an energy
worker who can help you get in touch with your energy. You will
be able to see where things are blocked and what issues from your
past you need to release. Keep in mind that it's not a quick fix and
it's basically like learning a new way of living that takes a bit of
dedication. But, it will make a tremendous difference in your life,
and allow you to receive the opportunities the universe wants to
send you.

Top 10 Signs Someone Else Is in Your Relationship

If you are in a relationship that is full of doubt and confusion, you
may be wondering if there is someone else in the life of your
significant other.
Here to help are 10 signs that another love interest may be sharing
your partner's attention:
Your lover no longer calls just to check in with words of
endearment.
Your partner is too busy to return a text message or voice mail.
Your partner doesn't answer the phone when you are around.
When you take a meal to his house, the dish is immediately
cleaned and set on the table so you won't forget it.
Your partner insists on staying home and watching T.V. rather
than go out on a date.
The bar is suddenly stocked with beverages that neither of you
drink.
Friends casually ask, as if they already know something, if the two
of you are still together.
Your partner doesn't try to ease your insecurities about an ex.
Last year you received a dozen red roses for Valentine's Day; this
year you received a card and a candy bar.
Your partner is too busy with projects on weekends to hang out
and too tired on Saturday night to go out with you.
These clues suggest that your partner is possibly cheating. They at
least indicate a change in your relationship. If you checked off
many of these signs, it may be time to step back for a little soul-
searching.
Where do you want your life to go and how can you create that
life?
What kind of relationship do you want in your life?
Does it include someone who is unfaithful to you?
Your relationship may or may not be over, but some reflection is
needed to answer these questions in order to pursue the life, love
and partnership that you deserve.

READY TO BE MARRIED, GOLDEN RULES FOR LADIES:

-No man likes to be talked back to. If you must be a wife material,
just shut up. When he is calm, talk things over. Don't be arrogant,
be humble.
-. Don't be carried away by your beauty. Have you not seen
beautiful ladies that are still single till date? Your good character
keeps him.

- Do not compare him with your EX. There are thousand of other
ladies out there. Forget about the past
- Don't always be at the receiving end, buy him something, no
matter how little it is, whether he has thousands of it, just buy it,
yours is unique.
- Respect him and his family members. Be a good cook, learn how
to cook something. Some ladies can only cook noodles, very bad.
- Call him when you have credit, don't be a chronic flasher'. don't
always wait for him to call. Value yourself, and he will value you. If
he doesn't have today, it does not make him poor, look at what
drives Him.
- What you can't change in him now that you are dating, am sorry
in marriage you won't be able to change it either, or you will
spend the rest of your life trying to change him.
- You are dating and he punches you at every slightest
misunderstanding...Sorry, when you marry him, your bedroom
will be a "changing room" and your sitting-room a "boxing Ring".
-Every little time, he threatens to break up with you. You start
crying, if you leave me i will die...Stop that. who told you? A better person who will value you is coming. Relax !

How Important Is Money In A Relationship?

No doubt, money is a desideratum in a relationship. But,
some couples started with nothing, but today they are very
much comfortable.
Many guys are unmarried because of lack of financial
stability. The high cost of bride price and other things
associated with traditional marriage rites dont even
encourage some low income earners to start thinking of
marriage. You see babes dump their guys for richer ones. Some women say they can't date any poor man, in fact they detest poor men.

So what's your take on money in a relationship???

WORDS FROM A FATHER TO A SON ABOUT MARRIAGE

1. My son, if you keep spending on a woman and she never asked
you if you’re saving or investing, and she keeps enjoying the
attention, don’t marry her.
2. My son, a woman could be a good wife to you, some could be a
good mother to your children but if you’ve found a woman like a
mother to you, your children and your family, please don’t let her
go.
3. My son, don’t confine the position of your wife to the kitchen,
where did you get that from? Even in our days, we had farm-lands
where they worked every morning . . . that was our office.
4. My son, if I tell you that you’re the head of the house, don’t look
at your pocket; look if you will see a smile on your wife’s face.
5. My son, if you want to have a long life, let your wife be in-
charge of your salary, it will be difficult for her to spend it when
she’s aware of the home needs and bills to pay but if it’s in your
care, she will keep you asking even when all has been spent.
6. My son, don’t ever beat your woman, the pain in her body is nothing to be compared to the wound on her heart and that
means you may be in trouble living with a wounded woman.
7. My son, now that you’re married, if you live a bachelor kind of life with your wife, you will soon be single again.
8. My son, in our days, we had many wives and many children
because of our large farm-lands and many harvests, there are
hardly any land for farming anymore, so embrace your woman closely.
9. My son, under the cocoa tree that I did meet your mother could be your eateries and restaurants of nowadays, but remember, the closet thing we did there was to embrace each
other.
10. My son, don’t be carried away when you start making more money, instead of spending on those tiny legs that never knew how hard you worked to get it, spend it on that woman that stood by you all along.
11. My son, when I threw little stones or whistled at the window of your mother father’s house, to call her out, it was not for sex, it was because I missed her so much.
12. My son, remember, when you say your wife has changed,
there could be something you’ve stopped doing too.
13. My son, your mother, rode the bicycle with me before I bought that tortoise car outside there, any woman that won’t endure with you in your little beginning should not enjoy your riches.
14. My son, don’t compare your wife to any woman, there are
ways she’s enduring you too and has she ever compared you to any man?
15. My son, there is this thing you people call feminism, well, if a
woman claim to have equal right with you in the house, divide all
the bills into two equal parts, take one part and ask her to start paying the other part.
16. My son, I met your mother a virgin and I took more yams to her father, if you don’t meet your wife a virgin, don’t blame her, what I didn’t tell you is that our women had prestige.
17. My son, I didn’t send your sisters to school because I was
foolish like many to think a female child won’t extend my family name, please don’t make that mistake, the kind of female achievers I see nowadays has made the male-gender an ordinary tag.
18. My son, your mother have once locked up the cloth I was wearing and almost tore it because she was angry, I did not raise my hand to beat her because of a day like this, so that I can be proud to tell you that I never for once beat your mother.
19. My son, in our days, our women had more of natural beauty,
though I wouldn’t lie to you, some had minor painting of their appellation mostly on their arms, the ones you people now call tattoo, but don’t forget that they didn’t expose any part of their
body like your women of nowadays.
20. My son, your mother and I are not interested in what happens in your marriage, try to handle issues without always coming to
us.
21. My son, remember I bought your mother’s first sewing machine for her, help your wife achieve her dreams just as you’re pursuing yours.
22. My son, don’t stop taking care of me and your mother, it’s a secret of growing old and having children to take care of you too.
23. My son, pray with your family, there is a tomorrow you don’t know, talk to God that knows everything, everyday.

12 Reasons You're Still Single

It seems everyone you know is paired off. So how come you're still single? There are lots of possible reasons. Here are 12 biggies

You Play Hard to Get

Do you pretend to be busy when asked out? Pretend not to care when you really do? Playing hard to get makes it hard to find Mr./Ms. Right. In fact, it's likely to attract just the sort of person who will make you unhappy: someone who doesn't feel comfortable being close.

Better always to be authentic.

You Fall for Gender Stereotypes

Men fear commitment? Women are needy? Not necessarily. When it comes to relationships, people fall into one of three basic categories. "Secure" people are warm and loving and feel comfortable with intimacy. "Anxious" people seek closeness but worry their love won't be reciprocated. "Avoidant" people shun intimacy, valuing independence above all. And studies show most people are "secure."

 "Most men and women really do want a close, committed relationship and won't act overly needy or try to push you away.

You're Fixated on Your Ex

Idealizing an old mate makes it hard to find a new one.

This is a particular problem for "avoidant" people: Uncomfortable with intimacy, they push their partner away. But once the relationship ends, their love resurfaces and they convince themselves that the failed relationship had been terrific. Then they compare every new person they meet to their idealized ex. Who can live up to that ideal?

You Think Love Conquers All

Certain red flags indicate you're dating someone with an "avoidant" attachment style - a person who is unlikely to make for a satisfying mate. Does he/she send you mixed signals? Tell you he/she needs a lot of space? Does he/she say or do things that make you feel like you represent some sort of "compromise?"

Maybe it's time to move on.

You Stick with a "Situationship"

Are you marooned in a "zombie relationship? Not getting much out of it but unable to end it? Yes, breaking up can be hard, in part because the mind is under the control of age-old "attachment circuitry" that encourages you to stick with your mate. Once you realize this, you've taken your first step out toward ending a bad relationship and moving on.

You're Stuck on "the One"

Maybe you have an ideal mate or relationship in mind and are determined to find that and only that. If so, it might take a very long time.

Getting stuck on "the one" is something "avoidant" people often do in order to keep true intimacy at bay. Instead of waiting for "the one," Dr. Levine recommends changing your mindset: Choose someone, allow him/her to get close, and make him/her special to you.

You're a Drama Junkie

Are you "addicted" to the highs and lows of unstable relationships? Lots of people are. They're drawn to emotionally unavailable people who make them work hard for every morsel of affection, while dismissing as boring those who are genuine and forthcoming. Eventually, this leads one to equate anxiety with love. That's not sustainable. Even worse, you let secure, loving people pass you by.

You Believe in "E-Romance"

Online romances just aren't the real deal. They may meet some of your attachment needs, but not in a real way. Even if you "graduate" from email to voice, that's not good enough.

Meet new prospects ASAP, and stick to the old-fashioned kind of attachment.

• You Fear Becoming Dependent

Some people avoid committed relationships because they worry they'll become dependent on their mate. They think people must retain their independence at all costs.

This kind of relationship simply doesn't exist. "We're all hard-wired to become dependent," he says. "The trick is to find the right person to depend on."

• You Let Mates "Mirandize" You

Police read the "Miranda" rights to people the arrest: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of a law." In a similar way, some people try to warn potential mates that they're "not ready for commitment," and think that doing so absolves them of any obligation to the other person.

If someone tries that on you, spell out your own expectations. Say you're looking for someone to be close to, someone who'll be there and care for you.

• You Think Good Mates Are Scarce

Date infrequently, and you'll inevitably invest a huge amount of emotional energy into each new prospect. That's a sure recipe for disappointment.

Better to meet lots of people and desensitize yourself to inevitable dating setbacks. "Just go out there and date,"

• You Think You Should Wait...

Some people think they simply aren't worthy until they lose weight, amass a certain amount of money, etc. But there's no point in waiting..

"If you're wary of getting out there - and this is especially true of people with an anxious attachment style - the best thing you can do is to start dating with a vengeance," he says. "You can find that special someone and improve while you're with them."

20 Things to Start Doing in Your Relationships

Family isn’t always blood.  They’re the people in your life who appreciate having you in theirs – the ones who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways, and who not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be.  These people – your real family – are the ones who truly matter.

Here are twenty tips to help you find and foster these special relationships.

1. Free yourself from negative people. – Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and like-minded.  Relationships should help you, not hurt you.  Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be.  Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it.  Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  When you free yourself from negative people, you free yourself to be YOU – and being YOU is the only way to truly live. 
2. Let go of those who are already gone. – The sad truth is that there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need.  When you no longer serve a purpose to them, they will leave.  The good news is, if you tough it out, you’ll eventually weed these people out of your life and be left with some great people you can count on.  We rarely lose friends and lovers, we just gradually figure out who our real ones are.  So when people walk away from you, let them go.   Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you.  It doesn’t mean they are bad people; it just means that their part in your story is over.
3. Give people you don’t know a fair chance. – When you look at a person, any person, remember that everyone has a story.  Everyone has gone through something that has changed them, and forced them to grow.  Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.  We meet no ordinary people in our lives.  If you give them a chance, everyone has something amazing to offer.  So appreciate the possibility of new relationships as you naturally let go of old ones that no longer work.  Trust your judgment.  Embrace new relationships, knowing that you are entering into unfamiliar territory.  Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to meet someone that might just change your life forever.
4. Show everyone kindness and respect. – Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.  There are no boundaries or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected.  Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother.  People will notice your kindness.
5. Accept people just the way they are. – In most cases it’s impossible to change them anyway, and it’s rude to try.  So save yourself from needless stress.  Instead of trying to change others, give them your support and lead by example.

6.      · Encourage others and cheer for them. – Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places.  So be happy for those who are making progress.  Cheer for their victories.  Be thankful for their blessings, openly.  What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.

7.      · Be your imperfectly perfect self. – In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self.  And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same.  Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress.  Be your imperfectly perfect self around them.  We are not perfect for everyone, we are only perfect for those select few people that really take the time to get to know us and love us for who we really are.  And to those select few, being our imperfectly perfect self is what they love about us.

8.      · Forgive people and move forward. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.  Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.”  It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.”  Forgiveness is the remedy.  It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened.  It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life.  Remember, the less time you spend hating the people who hurt you, the more time you’ll have to love the people who love you.

9.      · Do little things every day for others. – Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.  You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people.  Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like royalty.

10.  · Pay attention to who your real friends are. – As we grow up, we realize it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones.  Remember, life is kind of like a party.  You invite a lot of people, some leave early; some stay all night, some laugh with you, some laugh at you, and some show up really late.  But in the end, after the fun, there are a few who stay to help you clean up the mess.  And most of the time, they aren’t even the ones who made the mess.  These people are your real friends in life.  They are the ones who matter most.

11.  · Always be loyal. – True love and real friendship aren’t about being inseparable. These relationships are about two people being true to each other even when they are separated.  When it comes to relationships, remaining faithful is never an option, but a priority.  Loyalty is everything.

12.  · Stay in better touch with people who matter to you. – In human relationships distance is not measured in miles, but in affection.  Two people can be right next to each other, yet miles apart.  So don’t ignore someone you care about, because lack of concern hurts more than angry words.  Stay in touch with those who matter to you.  Not because it’s convenient, but because they’re worth the extra effort.  Remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of.  Paying attention to these people is a priority.

13.  · Keep your promises and tell the truth. – If you say you’re going to do something, DO IT!  If you say you’re going to be somewhere, BE THERE!  If you say you feel something, MEAN IT!  If you can’t, won’t, and don’t, then DON’T LIE.  It’s always better to tell people the truth up front.  Don’t play games with people’s heads and hearts.  Don’t tell half-truths and expect people to trust you when the full truth comes out; half-truths are no better than lies.  Remember, love and friendship don’t hurt.  Lying, cheating and screwing with people’s feelings and emotions hurts.  Never mess with someone’s feelings just because you’re unsure of yours.  Always be open and honest.

14.  · Give what you want to receive. – Don’t expect what you are not willing to give.  Start practicing the golden rule.  If you want love, give love.  If you want friends, be friendly.  If you want money, provide value.  It works.  It really is this simple. 

15.  · Say what you mean and mean what you say. – Give the people in your life the information they need, rather than expecting them to know the unknowable.  Information is the grease that keeps the engine of communication functioning.  Start communicating clearly.  Don’t try to read other people’s minds, and don’t make other people try to read yours.  Most problems, big and small, within a family, friendship, or business relationships, start with bad communication.

16.  ·  Allow others to make their own decisions. – Do not judge others by your own past.  They are living a different life than you are.  What might be good for one person may not be good for another.  What might be bad for one person might change another person’s life for the better.  Allow people to make their own mistakes and their own decisions.

17.  ·  Talk a little less, and listen more. – Less advice is often the best advice.  People don’t need lots of advice, they need a listening ear and some positive reinforcement.  What they want to know is often already somewhere inside of them.  They just need time to think, be and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help them find their direction.

18.  · Leave petty arguments alone. – Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right.  There are many roads to what’s right.  And most of the time it just doesn’t matter that much. 

19.  · Ignore unconstructive, hurtful commentary. – No one has the right to judge you.  They might have heard your stories, but they didn’t feel what you were going through.  No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently.  So concentrate on doing what you know in your heart is right.  What most people think and say about you isn’t all that important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.

20.   · Pay attention to your relationship with yourself. – One of the most painful things in life is losing yourself in the process of loving others too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  When was the last time someone told you that they loved you just the way you are, and that what you think and how you feel matters?  When was the last time someone told you that you did a good job, or took you someplace, simply because they know you feel happy when you’re there?  When was the last time that ‘someone’ was YOU?

12 Reasons to Fight For Your Marriage

1. It’s more rewarding to run a marathon than it is to walk to your mailbox. That’s because nearly anyone
can walk to a mailbox. Only a few people have what it takes to run a marathon. Relationships are similar.
It’s easy to love someone during easy times. It’s a lot more rewarding to love someone through hard times. Few couples without a legally binding marriage certificate find the perseverance to stay together during
hard times.
2. Marriage allows you to take greater risks. helping each other financially
3. It often takes many years of marriage before two people can become honest enough to tell one another what they really need to hear. Marriage provides the painful feedback that is necessary for personal growth.
4. The Planning the Funeral Phase of Marriage does not last the entire marriage.
5. Few couples who have been  married for 30, 40, 50 or more years tell me that they regret sticking it out.
6. Your spouse might be capable of hating you more than anyone. But your spouse is also capable of loving you more than anyone.
7. Marriage provides you with continual opportunities to grow. The harder it is for you to make things work,
the better of a person you will become.
8. When you are old and you can no longer remember things, your spouse just might be able to remember them for you.
9. Two people can more easily amass a nest egg together than either could ever do separately.
10. Your spouse can make you strong where you are weak.
11. Your spouse might not know how to love you, but you can teach him or her how.
12. Most of what you fight about now will eventually become something you laugh about later.

Why do you think it’s important to fight
for your marriage? Or why do you think
it’s not?

How to Have a Lasting Long-Distance Relationship

 

Agree on Your Commitment Level

Couples in long-distance relationships know they’re taking a risk, not to mention making a few sacrifices. But if you see a real future for the two of you, the sacrifices won’t seem to matter. Still, before you get involved in a long-distance relationship, there are a few things you have to establish. Are you exclusive or are you seeing other people? Don’t assume that it’s one or the other if you’ve never discussed it, especially if you’re looking to keep things one-on-one. “With long-distance relationships, you need to have a detailed, intimate conversation, including whether the connection is monogamous or open,” “Confirming the level of commitment will help to avoid unnecessary jealousy issues and fights.” If you think this is the one, get ready for some hard, but hopefully rewarding, work. “The amount of time couples are able to maintain a long-distance relationship really depends upon how they nurture it,”

Don't Keep Secrets

Honesty is paramount to any relationship, but especially one that’s maintained from different cities, states, even countries. It’s crucial to be forthcoming -- especially about your own insecurities. As a matter of fact, revealing what makes you anxious can lead to improvements in the relationship, as well as a greater level of sensitivity from your partner. “Call when you get home from a night out, and tell your significant other, ‘I really wish you were here,’ Avoid constantly talking about one person your faraway mate may see as a romantic threat. “And don't kid yourself,” “Spending all of your time with one person can easily lead to temptation, so make sure you hang out with lots of people.”

Surprise Each Other

Routine is actually a good thing when it comes to long-distance relationships. You can look forward to your next conversation or visit because you know exactly when it’s going to happen. But every now and then, step up the romance a bit. That means calling unexpectedly and “upping the physical anticipation with [phone] sex and saucy email banter,” But don’t invest your money in flowers: “Surprise visits are the best gifts you can give.”

Schedule Daily Communication

“Speaking to someone on a daily basis is what keeps the conversation flowing. Sharing the minutiae of each other's daily lives is what keeps a relationship strong and thriving,” With email, IM, texting, Skype and the good old-fashioned telephone, there’s no excuse not to talk every day. And, yes, we do mean every single day. After all, if you lived in the same city or, better yet, the same home, wouldn’t you talk that often? Keep each other looped in to everything from the finer points on up to the broader news that matters to you most, and you’ll feel closer to one another, both literally and figuratively. “If possible, these conversations should be scheduled so the couple feels a sense of loyalty and consistency,”

Maintain Your Sex Life

Just because you don’t sleep in the same bed every night, doesn’t mean your relationship between visits has to consist of dry spell after dry spell. On the contrary, “Our brains are our biggest sex organ.” So use the distance to your advantage by stimulating each other mentally and therefore sexually. “Learn how to talk (and text) dirty,”. “It doesn’t have to be overt -- just enough to make each other wonder if you're fully clothed.”

Plan Frequent Visits

I recommends that long-distance daters see each other in the flesh at least one weekend a month. You know the excitement of being asked out on a second date while you’re still on the first one? Do the same here. Never finish a visit without planning the next trip. “If you can't physically see each other as much as you would like, virtual dates can work wonders.” Skype, anyone

Send Cards and Gifts

Texts, Facebook, Tweets -- all of the electronic communication options at our disposal have made long-distance dating much easier, that’s for certain. But how did couples do it in the pre-email days? Introducing… the pen and paper! (Remember them?) “The major thing missing during a long-distance relationship is physical proximity to your partner,. “Snail mail, while no substitute, brings you that much closer to your sweetheart, because you're touching the paper he touched and reading the lines he wrote by hand.” How’s that for a romantic thought? And she even takes it a step farther: “This is why spritzing the paper -- very lightly! -- with your perfume or cologne is a nice touch, even if it's a little cheesy.”

Trust Each Other

“Commitment is a statement of intention. If you know your partner well, and a regular routine is kept, issues of trust will not rear their ugly heads,”. That said, trust also means giving one another the benefit of the doubt. If your guy says he’ll call you after work around 6 p.m., but the phone doesn’t ring until 7 p.m., assume he was pulled into a meeting with his boss, not having drinks with that hot girl in accounting. Just because your imagination can have the tendency to run wild, doesn’t mean you should let it.

Stay Social

If it’s Saturday night and you’re watching Saturday Night Live with your cat because, le sigh, your boyfriend lives a few states away, it’s time to take a step back. “It is imperative that you each have a social life in your own city,”. “Without your own world of opportunities and enjoyment, you lose your sense of security and independence.” Going out with supportive friends will keep you busy and in a positive state of mind. Building new friendships also boosts confidence, which can enhance your relationship. “There is nothing more attractive to a partner than someone who is confident,”

Set an End Goal

How long is too long to be in a long-distance relationship? Well, that depends on you, your guy and your respective situations, but at some point you’ll need to live in the same city. (You may even expect to have a ring on your finger!) “There needs to be a light at the end of the tunnel, a time when you’ll be in the same place, or at least the understanding that one of you will have to move at some point,”. “If you’re in a new relationship, this might be too intense a topic to broach for a while, but you can still talk about the fact that you’ll need to talk about it [eventually].” She suggests setting a deadline. For example, agree that after three months you’ll have a “state of the union” conversation. After all, if you’re both in it for the long haul, these are decisions you’ll want to make sooner rather than later. That way you’ll know the relationship is -- or isn’t -- right for you.