Great Listening tool!

We have talked and will continue to talk about ways to improve your ability to converse with your partner. Communication is and always will be the foundation of your relationship. With that in mind I came across a method of communication that improves your listening skills. The IMAGO method of conversing is a great way to really hear what your partner is saying, and it is totally simple. What you do is basically repeat what your partner is saying when they want to speak to you about an issue they are having in your relationship. Simply put you quietly listen to what your partner has to say and then you repeat it. You don't comment on it or interrupt while they are talking you just listen and repeat. Sounds to simple to work doesn't it. I suggest you try it sometime it truly is an amazing way to hear and understand the message. Have you partner make sure you repeat the message exactly as they did so you get the full effect. Number one with you speaking this concern you hear it in a different manner and it registers better in your head and by not addressing or speaking on the issue it gives you time to think about what they and you are saying. For more on this topic click on the title of this post and learn in more detail how the IMAGO method can help your relationship. You can also pick up the book "Getting the love you want" or "Getting the sex you want" for a more detailed instruction on the subject.

Check your morning greeting.

How do you respond to your partner when you get up? Are you a cave person that only grunts at them or are you a person that greets them in the morning like they are the reason you got up. People are split, some are morning people and some are not but you should always make it a point to express your love to your partner when first getting up. There are several ways to do this that are simple and easy even for the most non-morning person. A simple roll over hug is a nice way to say, "I am still tired, but I love you" or a soft kiss on the check, heck even just putting your hands on them relays your message of care. Sometimes your morning greeting can greatly effect the day not only for you but for you partner also. Being grumpy or angry with your partner can change the whole dynamics of their day. Don't take a chance ruining yours and their day put a little effort into showing them you are glad to see them, even if you are not ready to get up.

Buy extra pillows for you bed.

Want to get more comfortable in your bed? I am sure you have seen the pictures of the lavish bed with about 25 pillows on it and you think to yourself "That's a lot of pillows to take on and off the bed every night" Well you right it is a lot of pillows, however it makes the bed more inviting. Not necessarily for sleep! It makes your partner and you want to lay in bed more, maybe reading, maybe playing a game, or maybe doing a little pillow fighting. The pillows can be used and devices to help you sit up to read or just get more comfortable while you enjoy your space. If some of your pillows are small try sleeping with one between you knees, if you lay on your side, this simple action makes me sleep a whole lot better. On a sexual side with a ton of pillows on your bed you can achieve more positions then you can just on a flat surface. Plus you can use these pillows for support and even make sure you partner is more comfortable. A simple pillow under the small of a woman's back adds a greater sensation to love making in the missionary position. Now go out and get several pillows today and make your bed the comfort zone it should be.

Take turns undressing each other.

There is an art to getting undressed for your partner, but it is even more fun and exciting to let your partner undress you. This can be the start of foreplay if you take turns undressing each other. Go back and forth let each other take off one piece of clothing then let your partner do the same to you. Go slow this is not a race, sometimes it is fun to rip his/hers clothes off but this time I want you to take your time. Enjoy each and every part of your lovers body that you expose. Try to give them cold chills with the removal of each item. The anticipation and excitement will build to a very high level as you get them closer and closer to being naked. Make it a game if you want, play strip poker with the other person getting to remove your clothes and throw them on the table. Use your hand to explore each and every inch of their skin with light and delicate touches. I am sure this suggestion will have you more then ready to proceed with intimacy after the clothes are gone. Make it last set a time limit like you can only remove a piece of clothing every two minutes and you have to continue to massage or touch the area the last piece of clothing was removed for the remainder of the time. You can also do this in front of a mirror for a little added effect. Last but not least enjoy getting each other naked it should be fun.

Keep an on going wish lists

Christmas is past and gone with it are the thoughts of purchasing presents for your beloved. Not so true, their are several more holiday in which gifts are usually exchanged. Valentines Day is just around the corner, birthdays, anniversaries, and so forth are just a sample of holidays that we purchase gifts for, plus sometimes we just want to buy the person we love a little trinket to show them we are thinking about them. To help with this process both of you should keep a wish list available for your partner to be able to view anytime they wish. Maybe you could make a special file on your computer or even keep a shared document available for the two of you both to get into and change the list as needed (Google documents allows this feature). When you see something you would like to have go ahead and put it on the list. This way when you partner is getting ready to purchase a gift for you, what ever the occasion they will have a list available without having to ask you that dreaded question, "What would you like for our/your..." Not only do you get what you want but they can also surprise you without your input. Make sure to keep the list updated regularly so you don't get things you have already purchased or decided you didn't really want. This will make all your holiday even more special plus help with the frustration of your mate trying to find something to purchase for you.

Hang some pictures of the two of you.

If you want to really show your mate you really care about them, an easy way to do it is to hang some pictures of the two of you up in your house. Pictures from your vacations, or from the holidays it doesn't matter. Get the pictures blown up to an acceptable size and position them around your house in areas that they mesh with. Vacation pictures or Holiday pictures can go in the living area while pictures of you in the rain might work well in the bathroom. Pictures of the two of you in restaurants might work well in the kitchen or dinning area. Save pictures of the two of you kissing or hugging for the bedroom. Keeping images of great times you have had in the past help to cement your relationship and give you a constant visual reminder of how much fun you have together. I would suggest getting pictures you have taken through the years instead of getting some professional ones done, the one you take seem to have a more personal feel. You might have to rely a little on others to take pictures of the two of you, but no matter where you are someone will always be their to lend a helping hand.

Romance is open minded.

If there is one thing that I know for a fact, it is that romance is open minded. Romance has to stay open and new at all times. You can only give flowers so many time and if you got flowers everyday you would likely get sick of getting them. So, to keep romance fresh and new you have to continually open to new and exciting ways to romance your mate. Sure there are things that you might not be comfortable with and you can choose to stay away from those things. However when you want to branch out and find something new way to be romantic you have to get out of your comfort zone a little. For instance if you always go to a Italian restaurant when you go out to eat deciding to go to a Thai restaurant would make you a little uncomfortable. Same can be said for more intimate activities, so many people are against anal play but some people really enjoy the thrill of it. The most important part is not to judge anything your partner might want to try be open and keep the communication flowing before and after the event. If you have stomach problems then Thai might not agree with you but you will not know for sure until you try it. Same for sexual issues, unless you try it then you don't know for sure that it does feel good. However if you are totally against something you should speak up and express that to your mate. If you go into it with a closed mind you will not be comfortable and not give it a fair chance. So sometimes you have to put these types of things on the back burner or find alternatives. For instance if you are against swinging and your partner wants to try it maybe purchasing some wigs or fake mustaches will help them get into their romance while not crossing your boundaries. Again it all goes back to communication, some of the off the wall things that I have tried it took me a while to work up asking for but when I did I was amazed at how well they were received. Romance and love are wonderful things but you can't expect them to stay fresh and exciting on their own, you have to put the effort and communication into them.