There are five stages in a relationship. You’ll probably recognize when you moved in and out of these relationship stages.
The Main Five Stages in a Relationship
Lasting on one stage depends on the couple. Some couples never advance to the later stages because of incompatibility or emotional immaturity.

Stage One: Attraction and Romance
Every couples experience this phase. It happens in the beginning when both are in process of knowing each other. It can be called as fantasy phase because at this time the partner seems to be perfect. This phase lasts can last for some months to few years also.

Both of them focus on the similarities in this stage. You are likely that you are spending a lot of time together, seems that you are in love, after all, and you can’t think of being apart from your lover. Conflict is not only avoided in this stage but seems like it will never happen at all. It is fun in this stage but is not sustainable. People who are constantly changing partners are often trying to remain in this stage.

Stage Two: Reality Sets In
This stage will begin to creep in slowly in your relationship. In this phase, you don’t like your partner’s behaviors and start to see flaws. It’s not that you are no longer in love, but your partner doesn’t seem as great as he or she was in stage one.

The stage features many feelings running through your body that gives you a “high” sensation. Your body can’t resist this up forever, and so in this stage your relation begins to level down. You may even think that whether you are still in love or not.

Stage Three: Disappointment
When began as reality two often turns to disappointment in stage three. The problem arises that as a couple they know that arguments are bad but then also they are angry at each other. Some of the anger can be such as small differences between you. You don’t realize that conflict can be healthy, you wonder if this relationship is about to be over. In fact, you likely have thoughts of breaking up or getting divorced.

Stage Four: Stability
If a couple can go through the situation of stage three, they will find that stage four offers much rest and enjoyment. You now have history together and you have been able to work through some differences as being a couple. The fantasy of over, but you have accepted this. You have lots of differences and you sometimes fight, but you love your partner; feel connected to him or her, and you trust that you can work out in future conflicts.

You may, sometime, feel that you are little bored as the chase is definitely over. You may also miss the feelings what you felt in starting and wonder if those feelings can be found in someone else.

Stage Five: Commitment
Few couples make it till this stage, even couples who are married. In this stage, you are truly a team. You have chosen to be with your partner, flaws and all. You no longer miss the romance because that would lead to create space between both and it mean being with a new person and you don’t want that. You have a dream for the future together as a couple. If dating, this is the stage where you can get married and feel comfortable with that decision. It is a stage of mature and sustainable love.

Conclusion
Knowing about the stages in a relationship can help you understand your feelings about your partner and your relationship. It is natural to lose those early romantic feelings but that something it awaits more deeper for you in a later stage. The stages requires communication and hard work. It is worth the effort when you find the right person to share the your life.

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HUG is just a three sweet letter word but is regarded as the best medicine to heal broken hearts. A beautiful quote by Shel Silverstein
“I will not play at tug o’ war
I’d rather play at hug o’ war,
where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs….”
Sometimes, hugs are a romantic exchange. A hug may also be exchanged as a sign of support and comfort. A hug can be a demonstration of affection and emotional warmth, sometimes arising out of joy or happiness at meeting someone. Hugs are an important expression of affection. By hugging someone, you remind them that you care about them and support them. If you’re angry at a loved one, hug that person. And mean it. You may not want to hug - which is all the more reason to do so. It’s hard to stay angry when someone shows they love you, and that’s precisely what happens when we hug each other. Here are few steps to give a good hug to your loved one –

• Approach the person

Friend Hug (girls): Approach caringly, sometimes humorously, and smile.

Friend Hug (guys): Approach quickly, usually not looking them in the eye.

Lover Hug: It doesn’t matter who starts this; either can make it just as romantic. When approaching, put your hands on their shoulders and look them in the eyes. Say you love them, how much you care for them, and how much you are loving every second with them. Then fall into each other and hug with all your heart.

• Embrace. Lean forward and wrap your arms around the person.

Friend Hug (girls): Close your eyes and think about how much you love your friend when hugging. Press as much as you feel like. (But don’t squish!)

Friend Hug (guys): Embrace strongly, and clap each other on the top of your backs. If it’s an emotional moment, keep in the hugged position for a brief moment and do not clap each other’s backs.

Lover Hug: Extend your arms toward him and hold them around his neck and shoulders. Lean as close as possible and press your torso against his. Avoid holding your arms below his shoulders and/or embracing strongly and tensely.

• Don’t hug too tightly. The best way to judge how tight or loose to hug is to let whomever your hugging tells you by how hard they squeeze. If they are soft, be soft back; if they like bear hugs and squeeze tightly, do the exact same back (but don’t suffocate him/her).

• Don’t let go too early. A hug is a powerful way to communicate your caring for another person, as it can feel great and greatly improve one’s mood. If someone hugs you, they may want a long, loving hug (maybe they are upset or down), so just go along with it and hug them until they let go or loosen their hold.

• HELPING TIP
Be welcoming when you hug. If either of you requested the hug, then be warm and loving and just make it feel like the person you’re hugging is safe from anything else and that you and whoever are the only people that matter at the moment.

A hug is worth a thousand words and is the shortest distance between friends. Sometimes it’s better to put love into hugs than to put it into words. A hug can break down barriers that sometimes words cannot do. At times, it can speak more than any words can say. We bond with a hug. We find comfort with a hug. We greet and separate from each other with a hug. We establish human contact and interaction with a hug. The beauty of a hug is in its simplicity. The gesture towards another human being, known or unknown is easy. It costs nothing but a simple act of caring and kindness.

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Romance is the glue that keeps a couple together and in love. And contrary to popular belief, it’s the small, day-to-day gestures that are the most meaningful, and have the greatest impact on enduring love.
We offer here a variety of thoughts and ideas that will help you to keep romance a priority. And don’t forget that fun is one of the most romantic things you can enjoy together.

1. Watch the sunset together
2. Back rubs/messages
3. Hold them with hands inside the back of their shirt
4. Cook for each other
5. French kiss in the rain
6. Dress each other
7. Undress each other
8. Kiss every part of their body
9. Hold hands often
10. Sleep together (actually sleep together, not Love)
11. Sit and talk in just underwear
12. Buy surprise gifts for each other
13. Roses, daisies, or wild flowers
14. Find a nice secluded place to lie and watch the stars
15. Kiss them every chance you get
16. Don’t wear underwear and let them find out
17. Lightly kiss their collarbone and jawbone just below their ear, then whisper “I love
You.”
18. Write poetry for each other
19. Kiss/smell their hair
20. Hugs are the universal medicine
21. Say “I love you” only when you mean it, and make sure they know you mean it
22. Spend every second possible together
23. Look into each other’s eyes often
24. Very lightly push up their chin, look into their eyes, tell them you love them, and kiss them
23. When in public, only flirt with each other
24. Walk behind them and put your hands in their front pockets
25. Put love notes in their pockets when they don’t know it
26. Sing to each other
27. Read to each other
28. PDA’s
29. Take advantage of any time alone together to cuddle
30. Draw a picture together
31. Let them sit on your lap
32. Lips were made for kissing. So were eyes, cheeks, collarbones, hands, and ears.
33. Hold them around their hips/sides
34. Hold her hand, stare into her eyes, kiss her hand, and place it over your heart
35. Unless you can hear their heart beating, then you aren’t close enough
36. Dance together
37. Cherish the picture you see when she falls asleep in your arms
38. Even if you are extremely busy doing something and they are away and know you are busy, go out of your way to call and say “I love you” or something else to show them you do
39. Call them from your vacation spot and tell them you miss them and were thinking about them, and be sure to mean it
40. Remember your dreams, and share them with each other
41. Ride your bike a healthy distance to see them if even just for a few hours, even if you have a car
42. Tell each other your most sacred secrets/fears
43. Go to church/worship/pray together, even if you aren’t religious
44. Learn from each other and never make the same mistakes twice
45. Everyone deserves a second chance
46. Describe the joy that you genuinely feel just to be with him/her
47. Make obvious sacrifices for each other
48. Love each other together, don’t just be together
49. Write a story about how you met and fell in love with them, and give it to them
50. Pray about them every night before going to bed
51. Love yourself before you love anyone else
52. Learn to say sweet things in foreign languages
53. Dedicate songs on the radio to them if you can.
54. Fall asleep on the phone with each other (intentionally)
55. Always try to tell them everything you love about them, and mean it.
56. Never do anything with other members of the opposite person that you wouldn’t do with them there with you
57. Find a particular tree in the part to call your own, and go there often to talk about your day
58. Make sure to put their wishes before your own
59. Board games on rainy days
60. Open your heart to them as much as or more than they do to you
61. Always say good, truthful things to them to cheer them up when they need it
62. Never talk about problems with ex’s
63. Be true to yourself- be true to each other, and always be true
64. Spend time thinking of creative dates
65. Go on one of those creative dates
66. To settle an argument, think of what is right, not who is right
67. Never say anything you know will make them jealous
68. Find a particular star in the night sky to call your own. When you know you can’t be together, set a time for both of you to look at the same star and think of each other.
69. Fill your heart with love, and fill theirs with yours
70. Never wait for them to say “I love you” first and always say it in return with meaning.

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For every relationship to thrive and flourish it has to be continuously nurtured with love and commitment. Most people tend to take their relationship for granted. As a result they feel the brunt of it in form of the relationship getting disintegrated. They forget that they have to work on a relationship– every day.
Following these 4 steps will help to keep your relationship healthy and thriving
1. Communicate: The most important thing is to start communicating with each other. Good and effective communication will cultivate healthier relationship that will last long term. If there is lack of honest communication it indicates need of trust or insecurity. And either is damaging to a relationship. To be honest with each other ensures that there is freedom to express your views that your partner may not be comfortable with. Remember that listening or talking does not impose conformity. It is merely a privilege of being in a strong relationship that provides you the liberty to share your inner most thoughts.

2. Show your love: Even if your relationship is decades old it is imperative that you demonstrate your love that is perceived and appreciated by your partner. Sometimes just to feel in love may not be enough in a relationship. You can show your love in various ways. Some may like to give or receive gifts or favors; for others it may be physical touch or sex; and for others doing activities together. Love must always be given in a way that it can be received. This will ensure that your relationship is thriving.

3. Trust your partner: Trust has to be the core of a sound relationship. Lack of trust leads to insecurity and jealousy—two of the main destroying forces in a relationship. Trust, unlike love, is not given but is earned. You can earn your partner’s trust by following through on your commitments and consistently being true to your relationship.

4. Learn to forgive: Another key to giving your relationship a sound foundation is to learn to forgive. No one is perfect. Your partner is going to make mistakes and so are you. When you absolve your partner you have taken a vast step forward. You nay not know but next time it might be your turn to seek forgiveness. So forgive your spouse the way you would want her to forgive you.

Being in love can help you kick start your relationship but it alone cannot sustain it nor can it thrive. Working together by giving it time and nurturing it with constant devotion will do wonders to the relationship and make it florish.

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Do you recall the last time you shared a romantic moment with your spouse? When was it that his kiss turned you to jelly? Has his embraces turned your world up side down in the recent past?
The answers to these questions can very well decide how romantic your relationship is. We all agree that all healthy and successful relationships are, and must be based upon a strong romantic foundation. If there is no real foundation in a relationship, then it is based upon superficial circumstances that eventually chip away and cease as a meaningless and empty romance.
Here are a few tips that will re introduce romance in your dull and boring life.

Break the shackles of monotony.
Many people associate the beginning of a relationship with romance and excitement because everything is new. But after the relationship is authenticated we settle into a routine, and nothing feels new anymore. To be romantic and to reintroduce the excitement that was typical of the relationship when it was budding, do something different, something that your partner wouldn’t expect.

Greet each other with a kiss.
Grab your partner and give him or her passionate kiss every opportunity you get. This physical show of your love will go a long way in reinforcing the romance in your life.

Write love letters to one another.
Conceal little love notes around the house in shoes, wallet or purse, car, favorite coffee mug, or coat pocket. A note pasted to the bathroom mirror with the words, “You are my morning sunshine” or a sexy message expressing what you’d like to do to your spouse when you get home from work are not only romantic but also always cherished. They help the spouse feel loved, and they instigate anticipation of your return.

Give a surprise to your spouse.
Gifts, such as flowers, balloons or theater tickets show your spouse that you do these sorts of things simply because you’re thinking of him or her and not out of compulsion. However, this is in addition to the birthday and/or anniversary card.

Romantic relationships don’t build at a whim. You need to nurture it with love and tender moments. Practice romance every day. To tell you the truth, sometimes the most romantic moments are simple, spontaneous and free. There are millions of methods to say “I love you” and express it in boundless ways. Make it a point to find a new ways and means to be romantic every day.

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Have you ever thought how special that first kiss can be? Especially when it is with the person that is so very special to you? A passionate first kiss can help your relationship to take a leap from boundary of just being friends to the sublime zone of love.
But to successfully cross these parameters, it is imperative that you do it right. One wrong step and you may wonder what hit you. Here are a few tips that will help you not only to muster up the courage to kiss your girlfriend but also ensure that you pass the first crucial test of exploring the chemistry between you without the feeling of awkwardness.

1. GET RID OF BAD BREATH-The first and foremost thing to keep in mind is that you should have fresh breath. And this goes for all the occasions- be it kissing or talking. You want her to be attracted by you not only while kissing but also when you are conversing. So keep away from garlic and onion and moisten your mouth because dryer mouth has the worse of breath. Remember to bring a pack of gum or mints in your back pocket or drink something to have a sexy breath that beckons her.

2. FIND THE RIGHT PLACE- To make the first kiss impressive and unforgettable, you have to take her to a secluded place, away from the prying eyes. It will relieve the tension of being in the full view of others who may be judging your performance. Also, your lady love may not feel comfortable with the audience around. By being alone with her there will be more room to create romantic tension and land the kiss on her while making that first kiss all the more memorable.

3. LOOK FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT-After you have found the right place look for the right moment. Pick a moment where it feels right to kiss her. It should not feel forced and make it feel like it was unexpected. Instead it should be spontaneous.  This is crucial because you don’t want to randomly kiss her and spoil the whole show. Her body language and behavior will help you decide the right moment for the chemistry to work between you.

4. GO FOR IT- Now that you have reached the position where things have moved from just ‘friendly conversation’ to the point where there is heaps of sexual tension between you and your girl, land the kiss on her lips. Ensure that your lips are lightly pressed on her lips. If she gives you the signal that she wants to carry on (she might slightly open her mouth) go with the flow and you can mingle your tongue with hers. Don’t thrust it, just do it enough where you can feel the tip of her tongue and play with it a little.

Remember, the sure shot formula to get that first kiss right without feeling of any awkwardness is to have loads of confidence.

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How often do you feel that your relationship is going in a flux, just because it’s been a bit too long that you’ve been in it? Cliché no longer helps you! There is something you really need to spice it up, something that helps you gain your lost passion and those moments of madness. Well, a streak of madness is certainly essential to keep the wick of passion burning in a relationship. Be it adventure, sex or romance, the idea is to explore new horizons and enjoy the beauty that only a relationship can bring into our lives.

Here’s a little game that may help you:
Get 20 pieces of paper and make 20 different cards. You are supposed to write an idea on each card like the things she would want you to do and things that you would want her to do for you. We always have our hidden fantasies, don’t we? So the topics could revolve around sex, romance, adventure or anything that’s been on your mind lately. Each card will be double sided with the name of the category on the outside and what you would want the other person to do towards the inside. For example: Outside – Sex ; Inside – In the elevator!

The fun part begins now:

• Put all the cards in a hat.
• Split them according to the category, designating a place for cards on each topic.
• Each week, one of you chooses from the cards of the other person.
• After drawing, you don’t look inside yet.
• You see what kind of card it is (Sex, Romance, Adventure) and decide whether to keep it or not.
• If you choose to keep it, you have to fulfill whatever it is on the card
• If you drop it, choose another card till you draw a different kind. After a card is drawn, it’s out of the game. The one week period between draws can be shortened or extended.

Here are some examples of the things you people can do together:
Romance:
• A candlelight dinner with your lover in a restaurant which she chooses (you pay)
• A romantic evening at the Opera
• Visiting the theatre
• Having a picnic at the nearby forest

Adventure:
• Go-kart racing
• Bungee jumping
• Jet-skiing on the local lake
• Parachuting

For the other category, you can be the best person to think what suits best to you and our partner. Physical intimacy plays its role only if the relationship you are has seen many years of togetherness and the trust factor is high enough. If you do share this, all you have to do is give wings to your imagination!

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Well, so far so good! I hope the basics mentioned in my last article did help you in your stuff. Like promised, in this article I am bringing you some more tips that’ll make your date just as prefect as you have always dreamt about!

Be a good listener!
It is your responsibility to make your girl feel comfortable with you mentally. And the best thing to do that is through communication. If you are only in love with the art of speaking, you’ll need some training for his one. Girls love to be heard. Not that you spend the whole night only listening to her childhood anecdotes but you’ll need to invest somewhere in order to know her well. And being a silent listener doesn’t really help. You have to show interest in the way you listen to her. So how do you do that? By asking her questions on the subject. I have often seen men going gaga over their soccer stories on the first date itself leaving the girl to nod at intervals, boring her to the core!

Try never running out of questions!
Imagine you are having a meal, and the conversation dries up, and you are left for the rest of the night bored with each other. Well, nothing can go worse than this, esp. on your first date. So please think in advance about your date and what you would like to know about her, and in return what you would like her to know about you. If you don’t know her at all, please think of general issues you guys can talk about. Once you know her interests, you can talk more about it in a broader sense. But until you are there, and in the situation, you have no idea what it will be like. You can avoid all of this by meeting for a quick drink, then go on to see a film, so at least you will have something to talk about.

The pay check!
Ideally, it’s you who should invariably take the lead. But changing times have made women equally independent who wouldn’t mind paying the bill as well. It is best that you argue and not let her pay even if she insists. If she offers the spilt and asks to pay half the amount, be as curt as you can over letting your hand be on top only.

The wonder of the good bye kiss!
Some women prefer not to kiss after a date, others are disappointed if the guy doesn’t even try. To know what’s best to do under a particular situation, just wait for a few seconds to see if she makes the first move towards it or not. If the girl is quite shy, she may not take the lead but will look at you into the eye. This is best she can do to tell you what she is anticipating so just don’t miss the opportunity. However, taking care of the body language is a must in these circumstances.

So here ends your first date, if it is, the best way you could think of. Last but not the least, tell her you’ll call her once you are waving good bye to each other. But do so only if you mean it. Every little move that you make, every gesture that you do is looked upon closely towards deciding what kind of person you are. The best thing is to be just the way you are and live yourself the best!

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Alright, now this ones going to be long enough so I’ll split this into two articles so that the read isn’t too long for you. When going out for a date, there are some essentials each one of us need to know at all costs. While we all know the stuff to an extent, this is just a reminder for the experienced and must-knows for the newbies to make sure that they have their foundation right!

Please take a bath!
This may sound a bit cheeky but the worst you can do is to go to meet her unshaven and smelling after a long day’s work. God forbid, if its your first date, you can’t just can’t think of doing it, how much ever rustic you may think yourself to be. Women are certainly a cleaner species and they do judge men on hygiene. So bathing won’t cost you much effort. Remember bad breath and body odor are an instant turn off and she will assume that this is how you are all the time.

Nothing beats punctuality!
Women always think of the worst when going for a date and one of them is you turning up late. Pease do not prove her right by doing so. It can give her all the wrong impressions in the world which you certainly wouldn’t want. Well, if you want to know what she may think, the first thing is ‘unreliable’. So it is advisable if you turn up just 5 minutes before you are due, especially if you are picking her up from her home.

Be a thorough gentleman!
Well, there are minor courtesies which play a huge role in getting the girl dote on you. Nothing beats mannerisms and warmth that you reflect in your character as an individual. Here are some. Hold the door open for her, let her walk through the door first, pull out her chair, be polite to her and the people around you. Women like to feel special and by treating her like a lady she will think you are fantastic.

It’s always good to compliment her!
Just drop all your egos at this hour and even before you ask her how she is, a statement, “you look beautiful” will just make her day and therefore yours too. Keep the compliments flowing throughout your date. It could be on the color of her dress or how much does that color suit her, the sparkle in her eyes, her smile – the options are many. Do not exaggerate while doing so. Just a genuine statement will do. It shows that you are genuinely feeling that you are saying Remember; you should be sincere enough in saying so because girls can make out when you are faking. Well, it’s pretence however, please do so with grace.

Well, the idea behind all this to make sure that your girl believes that you are attracted to her. She should feel needed, wanted and this one’s physical but making her feel beautiful does help her instill lots of faith in you. So these are some basic but extremely important tips you need to follow while going for a date. There are more in the waiting in the forthcoming article. Till then, be good, look good and smell good!

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