How are we to guess the consequences of attaching ourselves to “Mr. Wrong” when we are blinded, and often in a stupor by love? Here is a list of warning signs that will trigger those alarm bells; all you need to do is pay attention.

1) He is possessive. Is he alienating you from your family and friends? No, it’s not sweet that he wants you all to himself. It is not healthy for him to control your every move; you are an individual who was not born attached to someone else’s hip, nor should you be now.

2) Enjoys putting you down, especially in front of other people. Don’t ever buy it when he says, “I was only joking!” It isn’t funny, not for you and not for others witnessing the attack.

3) He suggests you modify your appearance. Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist from Canada. She tells the story of a potential partner who turned out to be not so nice, “You know something is wrong when a new man suggests you change something about yourself. I once dated a man and on the second date he asked if I would change my highlighted brown hair to red as he found red heads to be the sexiest of all women. If I had changed my hair color that would have been the beginning of many more manipulations where I gave away control of my Self. I would have given him power and acted as if I wasn’t confident about how I look.”

4) He loves taking the guys with him on your dates! How could you possibly put up with even one pal of his, who is bound to be inebriated by the end of the night along with Prince Charming, whom by this stage will more than likely be totally obnoxious and oblivious of your presence?

Judy Bolton and Wendy Bolton Floyd are sisters. They co-authored a great book titled “When Did You Know…He Was Not The One.” Judy talked to me about the time she was attached to a man who cared more for his pals than his relationship, “I was married to my husband who unfortunately thought his friends and acquaintances were more important than his life with me and our two sons. It’s one thing when you’re a teenager and your friends are the most important thing in your life but when you’re a mature adult and would rather hang out with your friends than assume adult responsibility than there is definitely a problem.”
Hear that? It’s those bells tolling…

5) He is difficult to get hold of. “When a man gets defensive about where he has been and who he has been with and gives weak excuses for being absent or very late a warning bell needs to be heard. If the man stopped for a haircut or to have his car washed there is no need for it to take half a day or for it to be a secret. While a suspicious attitude can frighten a man, being open and honest about his activities is a sign of not having secrets to hide”, says Marilyn.

6) Avoids your friends and family and will not introduce you to his. What are the secrets that he is keeping? Perhaps he may fear your loved ones “may spot the creep” and warn you against him, or maybe, he just doesn’t care! Bells will ring if you find there is a lot of mystery about his background. If you do encounter his loved ones keep an eye for their characters, it will say a lot about him too.

7) He is constantly complaining about money, or he is a miser with his finances. It does not equate happiness to be attached to someone who will question every penny you spend, especially when it’s your own hard earned money! It is also a good idea to watch out for a guy who is absolutely hopeless with cash, wastes his own and then turns to you for loans, which of course are rarely repaid.

8) He is generally rude, especially to service people such as waiters and shop assistants. Does he anger easily? Watch out! This is a man with problems, who is not nice as you will more than likely discover later on as you pick your shattered heart off the floor or worse feel trapped in fear of him.

9) Now this is a big one! The tan mark: left hand, ring finger… Hello? Here go those bells again! He may tell you he is separated. He may not be lying, but if he is serious about you, I would suggest he takes a walk and returns to you with signed divorce papers, which brings me to the subject of children if he has any. Get very clear in regards as to when they visit, what the custody arrangements are and what his relationship boundaries are with the ex.
Of course if you have kids, please be very careful. It is not just your heart at risk here; children can be just as affected by break-ups.

10) He is not all that interested in sex. “A lack of interest in sex is a sign to be wary of if a woman is looking for a sexual partner. Many women seek well dressed and groomed men yet fail to ask if the man has had homosexual experiences. Often a gay man will seek out a powerful and beautiful woman as a cover for his sexual preference. He is not interested in her sexually but does want her as a cover”, says Marilyn. Gay men can make the best of friends, but romance? Be realistic. Hear this loud and clear. You cannot change him! It is up to the individual to reinvent himself, and in regards to his sexuality, that is something not even he can change. Of course a preoccupation with sex is a warning sign. Does he prefer lingerie at all times? Go for man that can appreciate warmer clothing, and is not overly concerned with how you look.

11) He suffers from constant blues unless he is in party mode. Big, big worry this one! Alcohol and substance abuse are not pretty and a co-dependent life is not a joyous one. If he is not happy unless he’s high it becomes a deal breaker: “Get sober and stay sober on your own for the next 2 years, then call me and I am still available we’ll talk.” Seriously!

12) He puts his work before you most of the time. Since when is anything more important than you? If you don’t believe you are to be number one at all times, you may need a little help to see that before you enter a relationship.

13) A bad sign is a guy who has an awful lot of exes who of course happen to be female (I hope) and are still hanging around and he claims that “it’s okay for men and women to be just friends, so stop being so insecure.” I once dated a man who was commitment phobic (oops, I hear bells again!) and on our second year, when I questioned his intentions towards me he accused me of being insecure and I bought it. So much so that I apologized to him! Do you believe it? I woke up to myself shortly thereafter and needless to say we were duly over. Who needs an idiot who says he loves you, but wants to keep his options open? “We need to see other people, no need to be exclusive.” Rubbish! Don’t ever settle for that unless it is what you want also.

14) You are always making excuses for him. You shouldn’t have to do that. Watch out for the guy who gets defensive when you question him. “Attacks in responses to your questions needs to set of an alarm that this man is not accountable for his actions”, says Marilyn.

15) Finally, trust your intuition. You know that gut feeling; the one that tells you that all is not well? Don’t ignore it. It’s more than likely more trustworthy than any man. If a male makes you feel anxious, insecure sad and generally feel not so good about yourself, stop and listen and you will certainly hear the sound of those bells. Remember, relationships, romantic or otherwise are to enhance your life, not make it more difficult.

I challenge you to consider this; the right person for you to fall in love with right now is you. It is only when you truly care about yourself that you will make only the best choices and have the clear vision to see through deception and unacceptable behavior.

One more thing; run for the hills should those bells start ringing!

About the Author

Paula Maher
Reflections Under The Bodhi Tree

Origin of the kiss

The strangest theory on the history of the kiss that I have heard finds its roots in the age of the cave man. It is thought that in primitive times that a mother pre-chewed the food for her baby and transferred it ‘in a kiss’. Although this could never be proved, it would explain why the kiss is a sign of affection, between mother and child and latter, adults.

Another theory that I found was that the kiss was reflected in the Ziller Valley of Central Europe, where the exchange of pre-chewed tobacco between a male and a female was common. The young man would let a tip of the piece of tobacco, or spruce resin, etc rest between his closed teeth and invite the girl to grasp it with her teeth — which of course obliged her to press her mouth firmly on that of the young man — and pull it out. If a girl accepted the wad of pre-chewed tobacco, it meant she returned the boy’s love.

The third theory that I found was from a religious or sacred origin. There have been examples from around the world as early as 2000 BC, that show that people could have brought their faces together to symbolise spiritual union. Even in the culture of Indians, it was believed that the exhaled breath was part of the soul, and by two people bringing their mouths together, showed the joining of their souls. (Another variation on this believed that kissing evolved from the smelling of a companion’s face as an act of greeting.)

Kiss through history

Even without fully knowing where the kiss came from, it is well known that the kiss has been with us for a long time.

• In the sixth century in France, dancing was one way to display affection, but every dance was ended in a kiss.
• Apparently, Russia was the first to incorporate the kiss into the marriage ceremony, where a promise was sealed with a kiss.
• The Romans kissed to greet each other. On Roman emperor showed a persons importance, by what part of his body they were allowed to kiss, from the cheek to the foot.
• In 16th century England, the clove-studded apple originated. An apple was prepared by piercing it with as many cloves as the fruit could hold and then a maid then carried the apple through the fair till she spied a lad she thought worth kissing. She would offer him the apple, and once he’d selected and chewed one of the cloves, they would share a kiss. After that, the apple passed into the man’s possession, and he would venture off in search of another lass to continue the game with.
• At one stage it was even thought that people found kissing pleasurable because when the two lips met during kissing, an electric current was generated.

A kiss is a kiss

Now days, kisses range from small pecks on the cheeks as a greeting, to an the use of the lips and tongue as a sign of passion. It is that action that when two people embrace,  causes hormones are released into the blood stream, inducing a sense of euphoria that you feed in the sweetness of your lovers mouth.

It’s a kiss that brings every fibre of your being alive, turns your stomach over, sends Goosebumps up your spine. It’s a kiss that forgives your misdemeanours and smiles at your mistakes. Ingrid Bergman puts it together in that "a kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous".

Written by staff at infoweb.co.nz. Infoweb is the place to go for information on musical instruments and creating websites. Take a look at infowebs reprintable section (http://www.infoweb.co.nz/243.html). You can reprint this article free on your site as long as the above credit is not edited and the web addresses are work.

Your words are my food, your breath is my wine.
You are everything to me.
~Sarah Bernhardt

Through all eternity to thee
A joyful song I’ll raise,
For oh! Eternity is too short
To utter all thy praise.
~Joseph Addison

I love you not only for what you are,
but for what I am when I am with you.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be.
~Robert Browning

The simple lack of her is more to me than others’ presence.
~Edward Thomas

We are all born for love.
It is the principle of existence, and its only end.
~Benjamin Disraeli

Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
~The Bible : 1 Corinthians

Love is friendship set on fire.
~Jeremy Taylor

Love comforteth like sunshine after rain.
~William Shakespeare

The torch of love is lit in the kitchen.
~French Proverb

One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life:
that word is love.
~Sophocles

Love is the master key which opens the gates of happiness.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

You don’t marry someone you can live with,
you marry the person who you cannot live without.
~Author unknown

Of all the earthly music, that which reaches farthest into heaven is the beating of a truly loving heart.
~Henry Ward Beecher

About the Author

Sean Carter writes on holidays, Valentine’s Day and world events. He is a writer with special interest in ecard industry and writes for 123greetings.com. He is an active blogger at Valentines Day Blog.

There are many differing opinions on how Valentines Day started.

One story say that when the Roman Empire reigned, a festival every February was held in honour of the God of Fertility and during this time, young men would choose their mate. When a Emperor named Claudius can around, he outlawed all marriages in fear that the men would not be able to fight. Young couples still fell in love though and still wished to marry and they took these desires to the Catholic Bishop Valentine who, understanding love, began to secretly marry couples. When Claudius found out, he had Valentine arrested and ordered put to death. While waiting in jail, Valentine began exchanging letters with the jailers daughter and soon had fallen in love with her. The day he was to be beheaded, he wrote her one last note and signed it: From Your Valentine.

Another story points to Christianity in 496 A.D outlawing the pagan Lupercian Festival and replacing it with a day in February to honour the martyr St. Valentine.

A third story as to the origin of passing out cards stems from a French Count who was captured and imprisoned in London. From his cell he wrote his wife letters, including a passionate set of poems which he sent to her in February.

At the turn of the century, a new form of Valentines Day card appeared the Penny Dreadful. Up until this point, cards were relatively expensive but the Penny Dreadful changed all that. They were just what the name implied, costing only one cent and completely bad. The cards were cheaply made, the artwork was amateurish and the colouring was uneven. On top of that the verses printed on them were not the most romantic of prose. They were more often insults, taking swipes at old maids, teachers and the like. Still their low cost kept them popular for years.

For hundreds of years, Valentines Day has been a day of symbols. You can hardly go through the day without seeing a rose (as a symbol to Venus, the Goddess of Love), images of doves and lovebirds (who mate for life) or hearts. The heart was thought to be the centre of all emotion. People believed that when they gave a heart, they were truly giving all of the love and emotion that they possibly could give.

Its past aside, Valentines Day is the second the most popular card sending holiday just behind Christmas with one billion a cards sent a year. When the calendar turns to February, we start to think of love. February has for centuries been designated the month for lovers, with the primary celebration being on February 14, St. Valentines Day. We send cards, flowers, and candy and our children give out Valentines in school. Valentines Day reminds us to tell our loved ones just how much we care about them.

Written by staff at infoweb.co.nz. Infoweb is the place to go for information on musical instruments and creating websites. Take a look at infowebs reprintable section ( http://www.infoweb.co.nz/243.html). You can reprint this article free on your site as long as the above credit is not edited and the web addresses are work.

A. Good question. The answer is "maybe, maybe not". You see, the value of a love quiz depends upon who designed it and what the purpose of the love quiz is. If it was written by a magazine writer, for entertainment purposes, then that’s a good example of the "maybe not" category. However, if the love quiz was written by a professional who is trained in behavioral sciences, psychology, or relationship counseling, then you might be over into the "maybe so" side of the answer.

You see, a love quiz can be based upon real, substantive issues, questions that really matter and answers that provide insight, or they can be frivolous and designed to give a few yucks to a group of bored girls.

If your love quiz has questions such as: "How important to you is quality time apart in a relationship?", or "Could you forgive infidelity if you were partially to blame for the act being committed?", then the love quiz is attempting to identify core relationship issues that tell you something about yourself and/or your significant other.

If, on the other hand, the love quiz has questions like: "Could you date a guy who wore braces?", or "What would you do if your crush burped in front of you?", then you’re probably reading a teen magazine love quiz that has no significant value.

Even a love quiz that is written with the best intentions can provide misleading results if taken in an uncontrolled environment where the quiz taker may not understand a particular question or where the possible answers are confusing or poorly worded. For the best results, a genuine love quiz should be administered by a professional and the answers analyzed afterwards. That way issues can be explored and answers clarified.

The true purpose behind a professionally designed love quiz, especially a love quiz that is taken by both people in the relationship, is to determine whether or not the relationship has a long-term chance of survival based upon quantifiable personality characteristics that have been determined to be important in committed relationships.

These characteristics include all of the traits that you might expect such as: honesty, integrity, understanding, forgiveness, drive, ambition, moral strength, religious views, political affiliations, money management skills, sense of humor, and the importance of physical attractiveness to the other person.

By taking a love quiz that explores these issues, and having the results mediated by a qualified professional, a couple has the opportunity to make decisions about the viability of a long term relationship based upon their view of what is important to each other. If a love quiz results in one partner having viewpoints that are too far apart form the other partner’s, then a red flag should be raised.

An entertaining love quiz, on the other hand, is best reviewed by a bunch of friends chatting on AOL Instant Messenger or their cell phones.

Whether the love quiz is for real, or for enjoyment only, the quiz takers should be cautioned against putting too much value in the final results.

No one should make long term relationship decisions based upon someone else’s standards. In the end it is the magic and chemistry between two people that provides the answers to the only love quiz that really matters!

About the Author

Brian Fong runs the popular quiz site http://www.QuizFaq.com
Quiz Faq – Your solutions for the quiz.

1. Someone who sees the best in you.

If you were lucky enough to grow up with healthy parents, you have experienced the feeling of having someone who has always looked at your good qualities. Many of us missed that experience. You will be a lucky person if you have found a mate who is always looking at your ’silver lining’. Too often today people are more than willing to judge you by your errors, not by your potential.

2. Someone who gives you the benefit of the doubt.

There are so many times in your life when you need that little edge, that little opportunity to take just that extra step. It can seem as if your efforts are going nowhere and although you want to keep moving forward, there are so many negatives staring you in the face. That person who knows things could go either way for you but takes that leap to believe you will make it is the person who is more valuable to you than gold.

3. Someone who watches over you.

You need a guardian angel who is there, waiting to catch you if you fall, ready to help you when you stumble, ready to pave the way for you when you cannot get moving. There are people who love you who do just that. There are people who do not make a big deal out of saving your bacon. Do you know who they are?

4. Someone to watch your back.

You never know these days who is waiting to catch you off guard, to make sure you don’t do well, to sabotage your efforts. You like to think that people will rejoice when you do well. Many don’t. If someone ‘has your back’ and runs interference for you when you are trying to run the gauntlet through life, give that person a big ‘thanks’ plus lots of your attention.

5. The person who tells you we all make mistakes.

You hate to be around that judgmental, harsh person who reminds you, ‘I told you so’, when things so south. You don’t need anyone else telling you what you already know. On the other hand there are people who just let you know that the only way any of us learn is through experience. When you have really ended up in the dumper and blew it, stay close to the one who knows that the person who hasn’t done anything wrong hasn’t done anything much.

6. The person who gives you advice from the heart, not from the head.

When the situation gets rough and some big decisions need to be made, it’s fine to have people outline the pros and cons of a problem and give you ‘head’ answers. But if you need a nudge sometimes to tip the scales, you always listen to this person who knows you must do what will let you live with yourself and have self respect.

7. The person who won’t be the ‘yes man’ who agrees with you

No one who loves you is going to give you the green light and tell you to let er rip if it’s clearly going to be bad for you. It’s sad that often you surround yourself with people who tell you what you want to hear. The one who loves you will tell you to get help for a drinking or drugging problem, to stop the extramarital affair, and to be a good and decent person.

8. Someone who tells you to knock back, smell the roses, and enjoy life part of the time.

If you are a person who is a real performer and doer, there are likely to be people around you who enjoy the fruits of your labor and want you to do even more. Sometimes you may even see yourself as only valuable when you are giving, doing, and performing. Listen to the person who tells you that life is short and you need breaks and some R&R. That is the person who is looking out for you and your health.

9. The one who smiles at you and means it.

The person who loves you looks at you with eyes that smile and mean it. Too many people give you that slick smile, that quick pat on the back, and then forget that you even exist.

The eyes are the windows of our soul and you can read into a person’s smile if it is saying, ‘You are a fine person and I want to be with you as long as possible’. Don’t fall for any phony smile that attracts you off in another direction, only to leave you stranded and alone.

10. Someone who sees you as beautiful, inside and out.

You know you aren’t perfect. There are only too many examples of you looking around and thinking that you have flaws and aren’t like the people on television. The person who loves you sees you through eyes of acceptance with no conditions. As you gain a few pounds and your hair gets thin, the person who sees you as attractive, inviting, and appealing is the person who loves you all the way, no strings or demands.

Nowadays, it’s really important to know who loves you. Everything in our society is throw away, and many people have carried that over into the most important relationships in their lives. Think hard and look carefully. People who love you , like comfortable clothes, are easy on the heart, mind, and soul.

About the Author

Sharon Schurman is a retired clinical counselor. Her site, http://www.depression-help-guide.com offers information tips, suggestions and and self help for all types of depression.

After a while, my sweet love joined me and the first thing he said was:

”I can see this situation seems to bother you, isn’t it?”

In that moment, I thought he was the greatest boyfriend ever. I felt understood and comforted. I was in a better disposition to be the best partner that I could be for him. Then I realized that he was talking the same language of love as mine. I am a Visual and I understand better when we communicate with me in visual ways. He used the words ‘’see” and ‘’seems”. I am certain that the Auditory and Feeling people out there don’t really get it but, Visuals out there might better understand how I must have felt.

Having the same communication style or using the communication style that your partner is using greatly avoids missed connections, unnecessary challenges and increase intimacy by reducing the events of resentment. Passion starts to fade away when there is build up resentments. Communicating the right way is one of the tools to keep lasting romance.

There are 3 types of Love Language; according to the author, Tracy Cabot (How to make a man fall in love with you), you have the Visual, the Auditory and the Feeling style. We use all of those 3 ways to communication but one is predominant.

How can we identify the styles?

Visual expresses enthusiasm or stress similar to those comments: ”Don’t you SEE how this is amazing?!” or ” You’ll SEE. You’ll love it” or ” You don’t LOOK in a great shape today”. An Auditory will say ”This SOUNDS good” when a Feeling will say ”This FEELS good. I have the IMPRESSION that will work” or ”I know how you FEEL” or ”I understand…”

With Visual, it’s the look that counts. They usually are well dressed. They take care of their appearance. They relax in a beautiful, well harmonized environment. Things have to be in order around them. They look for partners who take care of their looks too. When visual think, their eyes look up in the air because they are ”visualizing” what they will say or the situation in their mind. They will tell you ”how things looked”. They don’t talk about their feelings early in the relationship because they need to ‘’see” where the relationship is leading first. They like to watch television, read, arts, landscaping, etc… anything that stimulates their eyes.

An Auditory are very sensitive the sounds around them. They always have music at home or in their car. They talk a lot because they like to ”hear” themselves talk. They are easily distracted by noise. They adore being talked softly in the ear. The quality of the voice of their partner can be a true turn on or a definitive turn off. An Auditory will look on the side when they think because they have to hear the voice in their head. Auditory will tell you ”how things sounds”. Auditory will have the latest stereo system in town, they prefer going to concerts, they like to talk on the phone and they have a special talent for music.

A Feeling person reacts on intuitions and their guts. They are willing to sacrifice elegance for comfort (no high heels for women and tight collar shirt for men). They want to feel great at all times and in every situation. They look for partners who are great at sharing feelings. They are perceived as people with a great heart. Women are easily seduced by Feeling Men because they have the ability to express their sensitive side and are great listeners, so common to women’s needs.

Feeling people like to touch, to kiss and they greatly need a constant physical expression from their partner. Feeling people look down when they think because they need to get the ”impression”. Feeling people will tell you ”how things felt”. They like to relax lye in the sun, work out, massage, drink, and dance, and eat great foods. They will most likely do risky activities because of the rush of extreme sensations. They are looking for trills.

If you are with a partner that has the same communication style as yours, enjoy yourselves. If you have two different communication styles, don’t conclude that you are not made for one another and it’s maybe time to see a counselor (a therapist or… a lawyer!). This article will give you more tools to help communication at the maximum and get a deeper connection with your mate or future mate.

How can we capture the heart of a Visual, an Auditory or a Feeling person?

With Visuals, you need to use visual terms; from my ”perspective”, I can ‘’see” what you mean, the more I ”look” into this, the more it ‘’seems” nice, I ”observed” how wonderful you are with kids, etc…

Visual need to be stimulated with what they see; always have a neat house, with harmonized colors, be dressed elegantly in every situation (wearing jeans can be elegant with a nice matching color and style top). Be sexy. For lovemaking, always have a little light, or candle, because it turns them on to see their partner enjoying sex. Look in the eyes show them that you care for them and you are attentive. Visuals like to make scenarios.

They usually don’t rush in the lovemaking because they need to admire first. They need to ‘’see” it. Also, they don’t communicate in words their feelings. They show them instead. Be sensitive to their generosity. Don’t share your feelings too early in the relationship. Show them instead how you feel and how you are. They’ll get the picture.

Auditory will be worried about the noise in the house. Quietness and great music atmosphere sure gets them to come around often. Use a soft voice when speaking to them even when you are fighting. You will need to speak in sound language; your voice ”turns” me on, that has a negative ”ring”, ”tell me, what do you think? I’m ”listening”, this sounds ”wonderful”, the ”rhythm” is perfect, etc.. Think verbal reassurance. Looking in the eye won’t have the same effect. Auditory often ask if you love them. For lovemaking, use a sensual sweet ”radio voice” in their ear.

Describe how you feel during the heat of the passion. Sounds of lovemaking will have a powerful effect on them. They usually don’t notice the new dress or new haircut that you just had, but they will gladly listen on how you got that new dress or new haircut, as long as they are in an environment that allows listening. They are really interested in who you are. Not on how you look. They are the best listeners.

With a Feeling person, use feelings word; that ”feels” good, I’d hate to ”disappoint you”, I don’t really ”connect” with that person, I can’t wait to ”touch” you, I ”feel” that we are going somewhere, let me give you a ”massage”, etc…They can be perceived a passionate people because they express their feelings so much. They need to know how you feel, very early in the relationship. They expect to be touched by their partner a lot and they do the same.

They often complain about insensitivity of their partners. Play with their hair while you talk to them, in the car, while you are driving, keep one hand on the leg, take walks and hold hands, wear satin underwear, make hot bath, etc…Feeling people can make lovemaking in any situation because they need the touch only. They are not necessarily the neat one or the most elegant either, but they will truly appreciate the complete you.

Pay attention of the dominant type of you and your partner’s. Practice the appropriate communication style until it becomes natural. Reducing challenges in a relationship increases the chances of lasting romance. Now, you have a way to capture the heart of anyone that you want, if you are single, and you can re-ignite the fire if you are in an unsatisfying relationship and get what you and your partner wants, because the connection will be deeper. I am a strong believer of ‘’say anything that you want” to your partner. But, there are ways of saying things. You just learned on how to make yourself heard and understood properly and receive your partner’s needs and caring expressions right.

Believe me. You’ll see the difference ;-)

About the Author

Who is Caroline? She is a growing expert on love, relationship, romance because she is reading a lot on the subject. She is presently in a fulfilling relationship and she is gladly sharing her knowledge and experience. To continue receiving tips on how to get the love life that you want, you can subscribe free to her newsletter at http://www.everydaybetterliving.com
info@everydaybetterliving.com

Find a nice jar and cut different colored paper into heart-shaped pieces. Write "I Love You" in a different language on each heart and place it in the jar. Continue doing this until the jar is full. Add a nice ribbon around the jar and you have a wonderful jar of "Love" to give.

If you want Valentine’s Day to last longer, write each "I Love You" in a different language on a colored, heart-shaped piece of paper. Then place each heart into a separate envelope. For the next two months, each day you can place a new envelope somewhere where your partner will find it making your love – and Valentine’s Day – last a couple of months rather that a single day.

If you are in a more playful mood, cut out the heart-shaped pieces of paper and write "I Love You" in a different language along with a hint where your partner can find the next envelope. Have your partner do a scavenger hunt to find each envelope until they come to the final piece where "I Love You" is written in English with whatever Valentine gift you have decided to give.

No matter how you ultimately decide to give the gift of "I Love You," it’ll be a gift long remembered and cherished by the person who receives it.

Different Ways To Say "I Love You"

1. a) Arabic — Ana behibak (to male)
2. b) Arabic — Ana behibek (to female)
3. Bavarian — I mog di narrisch gern
4. Bengali — Ami tomake bhalobashi
5. Brazilian (Portuguese) — Eu te amo
6. Bulgarian — Obicham te
7. Burmese — Chit pa de
8. Cambodian — Bon sro lanh oon
9. Chinese (Cantonese) — Ngo oi ney
10. Chinese (Mandarin) — Wo ie ni
11. Croatian — Ljubim te
12. Czech — Miluji te
13. Danish — Jeg elsker dig
14. Dutch — Ik hou van jou
15. Esperanto — Mi amas vin
16. Estonian — Mina armastan sind
17. Filipino — Mahal ka ta
18. Finnish — Mina rakastan sinua
19. Flemish — Ik zie oe geerne
20. French — Je t’aime
21. Gaelic — Ta gra agam ort
22. German — Ich liebe dich
23. Greek — S’ agapo
24. a) Hebrew — Ani ohev otach (to female)
25. b) Hebrew — Ani ohev otcha (to male)
26. Hindi — Mai tumse pyar karta hoo
27. Hopi — Nu’ umi unangwa’ta
28. Hungarian — Szeretlek
29. Icelandic — Eg elska thig
30. Indonesian — Saja kasih saudari
31. Irish — Taim i’ ngra leat
32. Italian — Ti amo
33. Japanese — Kimi o ai shiteru
34. Javanese — Kulo tresno
35. Korean — Tangsinul sarang ha yo
36. Lao — Koi muk jao
37. Latin — Te amo
38. Latvian — Es milu tevi
39. Macedonian — Sakam te
40. Malay — Saya cintamu
41. Mohawk — Konoronhkwa
42. Navaho — Ayor anosh’ni
43. Norwegian — Eg elskar deg
44. Persian — Tora dost daram
45. Polish — Kocham cie
46. Portuguese — Amo-te
47. Romanian — Te iu besc
48. Russian — Ya vas liubliu
49. Serbian — Lubim te
50. Shona — Ndinokuda
51. Sioux — Techihhila
52. Slovak — Lubim ta
53. Spanish — Te quiero
54. Swahili — Naku penda
55. Swedish — Jag a’lskar dig
56. Tagalog — Mahal kita
57. Thai — Ch’an rak khun
58. Tunisian — Ha eh bak
59. Turkish — Seni seviyo rum
60. Ukrainian — Ja tebe kokhaju
61. Vietnamese — Toi yeu em
62. Welsh — ‘Rwy’n dy garu di
63. Yiddish — Ich libe dich
64. Yugoslavian — Ya te volim
65. Zulu — Ngiyakuthanda

About the Author

Copyright (c) Jeffrey Strain – http://www.inexpensivedating.com is a website dedicated to sharing fun and inexpensive dating ideas. info@savingadvice.com

If yes, then you have experienced the powerful effects of chemical romance. When you are in a heightened state of arousal your body releases powerful chemicals that produce a state of euphoria.

The three most potent chemicals produced are oxytocin, it makes you feel intense desire for the person you’re with. Phenylethylamine, gives you a sense of total satisfaction and endorphins produces feelings of heightened pleasure.

Here are the six secrets to chemical romance–now is the time to unleash the sensuality of your lover.

Secret One: Use sensual scents–fill the room with the sweet smell of your lover’s favorite fragrance. Appealing to your lover’s sense of smell is a sure-fire way of stimulating the chemicals of romance.

Secret Two: Use erotic foods like chocolate that appeals to your lover’s sense of taste. Chocolate has an ingredient that releases endorphins in the brain causing a sense of pure pleasure. Feeding your lover pieces of chocolate is a powerful way of getting those chemicals flowing.

Secret Three: Use seductive lighting, appeal to your lover’s sense of sight. A romantic experience is greatly enhanced with the right lighting. A candlelit room or a room with the lights down-low conveys a warmth and softness that is perfect for romance.

Secret Four: Use romantic music, appeal to your lover’s sense of hearing. Cuddle with soft music playing in the background. Playing your lover’s favorite love song will greatly enhance the romantic mood.

Secret Five: Intimate conversation is vital to chemical romance. Stimulate your lover with mental imagery. Whisper words of love between sensual kisses. This is a powerful way to instantly set romantic feelings ablaze.

Secret Six: Use silk fabrics, appeal to your lover’s sense of touch. Moments of passion are enhanced by the feel of silk sheets caressing your skin–the erotic sensations are almost orgasmic.
The six secrets to unleashing the chemicals of romance is a powerful approach that when used correctly, can ignite the flames of intense passion and desire in your lover.

Copyright © 2005 James Hall

About the Author

James Hall is happily married and thoroughly enjoys writing about relationships. His site, a1-online-dating.com is a dating guide to finding lasting love on the web.

Love has to be worked on, just like a gardener with his garden. Although he has planted the seeds, and expects the sun and rain to do most of the work, he still has to pull the weeds out of the garden, to fertilize it, and water it if there isn’t enough rain. That is the same with a healthy, loving relationship. When love becomes a high priority in a marriage, it is taken care of and nurtured daily. The resulting love rewards you by growing into a more mature, mellow, committed feeling, and when tested, rises up to meet the challenge. How does one keep love alive in a marriage?

Make Time

You need to designate quality time with your loved one. Don’t take it for granted that he/she will always be there when you want them. Remember all those dates you took when you were courting? Now, it’s not so easy. There’s usually someone else making demands on him/her — whether it’s the children with their homework, or the boss expecting you to work late hours, or even an elderly parent that requires assistance. Also, it now might require finding a baby-sitter, or juggling the time with another activity that might take precedence. Whatever happens, make time for each other. Also, make time to hug and/or kiss each other often. You’ll be glad you did. The time you spend together will re-energize you and make you feel good for the rest of the day.

If you can’t get away, you can still set a date at home, after the children are asleep. The important thing is to have fun together. Here are a few things you can plan to do at home together:

1. Physical intimacy — might put some soft music in the background, maybe even dance together.
2. Pour a favorite drink, make an ice cream sundae, or grab some munchies, and have fun talking with your loved one.
3. Play a favorite board game or card game, anything that makes you enjoy yourselves.
4. Make popcorn and watch a favorite video.

This is not the time to solve life’s problems or issues. If there are any lurking issues in the background (and these may be keeping you from enjoying yourself), then sometimes you just might have to talk about it first, get it out in the open in a loving environment, then continue with your plans. Often, positive energy is tied up within us when a problem or issue has not been resolved.

Use these times to tell him/her how special they are to you (how intelligent, how thoughtful, how loving, how caring, etc.).

What is Romance?

Romance is the opportunity to show your loved one how special he/she is to you. It means taking the time for them, and making time, even if you don’t have it. It doesn’t mean thinking only about yourself, or having only your needs met. It means putting the other person first. Here are some ideas to spice up your romance:

1. Do small acts of kindness — give him/her flowers, or a little gift, or write a poem, etc.
2. Say "Thank you" and "I Love You" often.
3. Be considerate of his/her feelings, etc.
4. Take long walks together — anywhere.
5. Share jokes at mealtime. Laughter is a great way to share one’s love.
6. Visit a museum, visit community festivals, tour a new site, or attend a lecture together.
7. Hug and kiss often.

If your spouse doesn’t do things for you, then show him/her by gently pointing out what you like. If you like flowers for your birthday, and you haven’t gotten flowers, then let them know, particularly when he/she asks you what you would like. Don’t think they can read your mind, let them know.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

Over time, we learn how to read our spouse. Their behavior, their actions, are important clues that alert us to how they are feeling. Often, we think we know what they are thinking, and we become sloppy, and don’t talk about it, or they don’t bring it up.

For example, if he had a bad day at the office, and comes home snapping at the children and being tense, the last thing to do is to take it personally. Invite him to relax, as dinner is prepared, then after he’s eaten, ask him how his day was. Sooner or later, the truth will come out, and you will learn what happened. You need to be a responsive listener, and not criticize your spouse, for he will surely clam up. The last thing he wants to hear is criticism.

Other signs that can bring on a spouse’s anger/tenseness:

Hunger: If your spouse hasn’t eaten for awhile, not only their stomach growls, but they growl also. Keep your husband well fed (but not overfed)

Criticism: Try and avoid criticizing your partner. If there is something bothering you, then voice it in a way that you don’t point fingers or blame him/her. Try not to keep distance between you. Communicate your feelings, how his/her action affected you, and how you were hurt by that action. Never, ever criticize your spouse in public. An apology is forthcoming, no matter how right you thought you were.

Tiredness: If your husband has been working all day, and you ask him to do a bunch of chores when he gets home, don’t expect him to thank you. See if you can spread the chores out, so they include the weekend. Planning ahead helps here.

Take Care of Your Body

Although you may not look like you did when you were dating years ago, you can take measures to look just as good if not better.

1. Physical wellbeing – make sure you stay in shape, eat the right foods, and dress nicely. All these actions not only get more compliments your way, they make you feel good about yourself, so that you can be more confident in yourself.
2. Spiritual wellbeing — don’t neglect this powerful aspect of life. Pray, go to church, believe. Studies have shown that families that pray together, stay together.
3. Mental wellbeing — if you are a stay-at-home mother, find some good books to read, or read the newspaper or magazines. This will allow you to keep abreast with interesting topics, and will provide your spouse an interesting partner to discuss life issues with.

Don’t Substitute

Don’t substitute anyone or anything else for your loved one. Don’t go to a coworker or a friend, and share intimate secrets, because you may be betraying your loved one’s trust. Don’t watch television or be on the computer all the time, when you could be spending quality time with your loved one. Don’t spend all your time with the children, ignoring your spouse, because your husband or wife should be number one on the list. If people, organizations, or children clamor for your attention, put your spouse first, and then them. When you put your spouse first, you’ll notice you won’t need to be going to all these other people for emotional support. You’ll also notice you’ll be having more fun with the person you’ll spend the rest of your life with. Don’t underestimate the importance of love in a marriage. Cherish and nurture it, and you will have made the best investment in your life.

About The Author

Patty Apostolides is author of Lipsi’s Daughter. She has also published poetry and written several articles. Her website showcases her work: http://www.geocities.com/10500bc/index.html
Liendou@Writing.com