25 ways to keep a relationship alive

1. (F)*ck them, (F)eed them, & shut the (F)*ck up!

2. Saying "I love you" just because, at the most random & unexpected times

3. Dedicating 1 day out of the week/month for "us" time, where it's just the 2 of you. Each time go to a different place or do something you've never done with eachother OR anyone else before. Whatever day you pick, stick to it & make it a habit/routine

4. Establish alot of "first times" with eachother. Everyone remembers AND stays in the relationships where they did things they'd never done before/with anyone else

5. Ask your partner once every 3 months what you could be doing/saying differently OR in some cases doing the same, that will keep the fire alive. (You'd be surprised at how honest & forthcoming they are with you). Oh yeah & actually TRY to do/say the things they tell you to do/say.

6. When you're arguing, keep the low blows, cussing & out/over-talking eachother, out of it

7. Constantly remind them WHY you love them & are still with them. When a person who can't afford to lose you, hears what exactly it is that they're doing right to keep you, it'll remind them to KEEP on doing what they've been doing to satisfy you.

8. Change up the routine every blue moon. Be unpredictable. Try new things. If you normally have sex at 10pm every night, change it to 2am or 7am.

9. When you're discussing what you wish your partner would do differently/change, always remember to mention the GOOD things about them too. This ups your chances of them actually listening to everything you've got to say

10. Keep the debating, arguing & issues in house. Yes, go talk to outsiders for the sake of not being isolated fromt he world just b/c you're in a relationship, BUT remember that if you're gonna repeat any advice from outsiders to your partner, make sure you include the people whose advice was neutral, & not just the people who only agreed with you. If your partner doesn't trust your friend's or familie's judgment, they'll grow to not trust your judgment/problem-solving skills either

11. Pay attention. Be observant. Don't be the guy who keeps buying his girlfriend size 6 pants every Christmas even though she's told you 100 times & 5 Christmas' ago that she's a size 10. And don't be the girl who keeps cooking your man shrimp even though he's told you 1,000 times that he's allergic to it. Your partner needs to know that you're fully aware of their needs/favorites

12. Go on double dates sometimes. Don't allow

12...continued...don't allow your relationship to be 1 of isolation, where both of you only include friends in the picture when you're separately hanging with them. Allow friends/family to join into the fun you have with your partner every blue moon

13. Know when NOT to accept certain flaws/behaviors. If you don't open up your mouth & verbally tell/show someone what you don't like, you can't get upset/mad when they keep on doing the very things they had no idea bothered you. Plus, your partner will look at you like you're crazy if 2 years later you randomly remember to mention that "smoking" bothers you (for example). Be just as open about what you dislike & won't put up with, the same way you are quick to dish out what you love/will put up with

14. Be your partner's best friend. NOT their parent, counselor or dictator.

15. Allow yourself to be open & vulnerable, even when it's uncomfortable.

16. Always give your best & put your best foot foward. That way if things don't work out, no one will ever be able to say that you didn't try/do your part

17. Don't use all your sex moves in the beginning. Save some of your tricks for a rainy day. Give them something to look forward to. Hell, once you're out of tricks, then what?!

18. Remember the little things that count, like saying "Thank you," when they've done something nice for you...or taking 2 seconds out of your day to get them a Birthday card...or reminding them the next day that the meal he/she cooked for you last night was delicious.

19. Flirt with your partner! Be your partner's mistress! All the things you see on tv or other couples doing, do that in your OWN relationship. Put in the work to make your relationship fun & successful

20. Have fun! Don't be too serious. Have fun fun fun!

21. How you go in is how you gotta stay. You don't have to look like Beyonce or Brad Pitt every day, BUT show your partner that they're worth the effort of you looking nice & looking presentable. Find a way to be your partner's eye candy.

22. Whatever trait OR feature that attracted them to you in the 1st place, oughta be the trait/feature you're constantly showing or re-touching. If they fell in love with you b/c of your adventureous streak, don't become a lazy home-body later on. If they loved your legs, don't start wearing sweat pants 24-7

23. Send those little flirty/sexual text messages every blue moon, when they're least expecting it

24. Give them what they give you & DON'T give them what they won't give you. That way, the relationship dynamic is always equal. That way 1 person won't always feel like they're doing/giving more than the other. That way if the other person wants more, they'll 1st have to agree to ALSO giving you more too (Don't try to withdrawal what you didn't deposit)

25. During dry/rough patches, be solution-oriented. Instead of spending 2 hours fighting about the problems & about what's wrong with the relationship, take some of that energy & spend it on discussing possible fixes & solutions! If your relationship is all nagg-no fix, it won't last. TRUST ME!

Thanks for this. Good info!

This may actually be a list that I can refer to time and time again.