Speeding up Romantic Bonds

Many who look for love crave that intimate connection, that deep romantic bond that comes from a long-term committed relationship. The problem is, however, that kind of connection takes a lot of time to develop, and some wish there was a way to speed up the process and have that experience sooner. Enter Arthur Aron, a psychologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Aron took interest in the way people develop romantic bonds and came up with a creative way of speeding up those bonds through a series of questions. The questions, and much more, can be found in Aron’s 2004 Handbook of Closeness and Intimacy Paperback, co-written by Debra J. Mashek, but here’s just a few for those who’d like some first date question ideas. 😉

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?
3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

Looking for some romantic reads? Visit our online library at www.readiva.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Everyday Romantic Gestures

Valentine’s day may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean the romance has to be reserved for just one day a year. These romantic gestures are perfect for everyday when you want to show your loved one you care.

Hold hands. PDA certainly isn’t for everyone, but a big sloppy kiss isn’t the only way to display affection. Holding hands when walking down the street or even while sitting on the couch at home is not just a show of intimacy, it’s an everyday romantic gesture that simply shows you care.

Small surprises. We’re creatures of habit and it’s easy to slip into routine, especially when the relationship has been going for some time. Small surprises, anything from doing the dishes before your partner gets home to taking them out to their favorite restaurant says a lot about your love and helps keep things fresh.

Love notes. They don’t have to be epic poems expressing your undying affection, and they certainly don’t need a special occasion. A quick little note with nothing more than the words “I love you” on it can be just the thing to brighten your partner’s day.

Do things together. The best relationships are partnerships, and doing things together like preparing meals or cleanup up afterwards aren’t just ways of strengthening that partnership, they’re everyday romantic gestures too.

Looking for some romantic reads? Visit our online library at www.readiva.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Hot Winter Date Ideas

With a lot of us looking for love this winter it may be a challenge to think up some good date night ideas. It may not be too tempting to brave the cold, but rather than resort to the stereotypical night of Netflix and chill, why not give these three winter date ideas a try?

See the lights. If you’re brave enough to bundle up and head out into the cold for a romantic evening stroll, find yourself a well lit public park that’s full of fresh snow. The light’s reflection on the fresh snow will give everything a romantic glow, like moonlight before your very eyes!

Skating. You certainly don’t have to be a pro to strap on a pair of skates and heat things up on the ice. With indoor and outdoor skating both extremely popular during the colder months, and the occasional slip and fall leading to some hearty laughs, skating could be just the ticket for that romantic winter date night.

Cook together. If the weather outside absolutely refuses to cooperate, why not aim a little higher than a lazy night on the couch? Cooking together can not only be a lot of fun but leaves plenty of opportunity for a playful little food fight, and who knows where that could lead? Don’t forget to top it all off with a mug of homemade hot cocoa, the perfect ending to what may certainly be a perfect meal together.

Looking for more romance related reads? Visit our online library at www.readiva.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more.

Why We Should All Stop Think About Soul Mates

It’s a romantic notion that sometimes feels as old as time itself: The soulmate, that one true love, the one person out there who is absolutely perfect for us and who we’re meant to be with. But romantic as it sounds, is it really true? Is there someone out there we’re meant to be with? Maybe… but maybe not. Here are 3 reasons why we should all stop thinking about soul mates.

We may never stop looking. Time for a bit of math. There are 7.5 billion people living on the planet. That’s billion, with a B. Add to the fact that they’re spread out over roughly 1 million square kilometers of land, and your odds of finding that one true love may just mean you’ll be looking forever. Forever is a very long time…

We give up on our relationships too easily. Relationships take a lot of hard work and compromise, and not to give away any major secrets, but hard work and compromise are the reasons why relationships last. More often than not however that work ethic gives way to the idea that we’re just not with who we’re meant to be with, leading many of us to give up far too quickly on what could be long lasting and fulfilling relationships.

We look back with regret and wonder too much. As the saying goes, “half of all marriages end in divorce.” While realistically speaking the number is likely closer to 40%, the fact of the matter is that relationships end and often we look back with regret, thinking of it as “wasted time” that we could have spent with our soul mates. In reality, though, just because the relationship ended doesn’t mean it was all bad, and we’d be better served by thinking of the good times shared rather than what could have been with someone else.

Looking for more romance-related reads? Visit our online library at www.readiva.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Winter Date Ideas

With shorter days and colder temperatures it’s only natural that some of us may be feeling the winter blues at this time of year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to let winter weather affect our love lives! There’s still lots to head out and do this winter, and a wide variety of date possibilities for any couple. Here are three winter date ideas that are guaranteed to be a blast!

Head out for a skate! Though the uninitiated may experience the occasional slip and fall, a little bit of skating on a night out is sure to bring out the laughs and smiles. Many indoor rinks are operational in the evenings, and outdoor rinks are a great choice as well for when you’re willing to bundle up.

Try on a pair of snowshoes. Romantic evening walks are always a winner when it comes to date ideas, but rather than slip or fall on icy streets and sidewalks why not rent a couple of pairs of snowshoes and head out for a romantic stroll through some snowy terrain? The reflection of the light on the white snow will make for a glowing ambiance as you walk and talk well into the night.

When outside isn’t an option. For those night where weather just won’t cooperate, an evening indoors with board games and hot cocoa by the fire is the perfect prescription for a delightful date. Don’t forget the marshmallows!

Looking for more romance in your life? Visit our online library at www.readiva.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audio books, and music.

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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