Relationships Articles

I was looking at my red face, blue eyes all red and pouring the tears down my cheeks. My blonde hair which usually I had so much pride of, was horribly messed up, as if it had not been taken care of for weeks. What I saw was a picture of despair and rebellion against myself, the world, and everything else in and around it. I tried to regain some composure, done on my service uniform and started walking towards the Commandant’s office, the letter on my hand. 

The next morning I was put on a plane to the US. Some 12 hours later a cab dropped me in front of my house at 12456 West Lake Rd. at my home in Cleveland, OH. I climbed the three steps to the front porch and rang the door bell. Looking around I noticed everything looked kind of neglected.Even my mom’s beautiful rose garden was overgrown with weeds. 

After ringing the bell again and getting no answer I started digging frenetically in my bag, looking for my spare key. Fortunately I found it, unlocked the door and walked in. The living room was in the worse shape I have ever seen it before. “Mom,…” I Yelled. “Dad,…” I shouted louder. No answer. I climbed the stairs up to the main bedroom. No one. Went in all other bedrooms, nobody there either. I started to get really frenetic. Went back downstairs and looked everywhere. No one home. I began to fear that something real bad had happened.. I ran back out of the house like a mad woman and headed for the next door neighbor’s house. Mrs. Sinclair must had noticed my arrival as just when I was getting ready to knock on the door it opened. Mrs. Sinclair was standing there, speechless, like she was frozen. After a few terrible seconds she stepped forward and hugged me so very tight I felt breathless. Her chest trembling, tears rolling down her face.

She managed to control her hard crying for a while and told me my mom had passed away of a massive heart attack six months back. More uncontrollable crying, now I had joined her and the both of us were hugging and crying as if our world had crumbled down on us. It really had, on me. She said my dad had changed from a nice, intelligent man into kind of a zombie who took long walks, spoke to no one anymore and lost a lot of weight very quickly. She said one day, about two months ago he didn’t come back home in the afternoon like he usually did, so she called the police and told them about it. Cleveland police organized a wide search in all of the western suburbs and with the description and picture of him they finally found him one evening, sitting at a bench in the Metropolitan Park next to the Zoo. He wouldn’t know his name or where he lived, so they took him to a County Rest Home. Mrs. Sinclair gave me the places’ address and phone number. I thanked her warmly for her great help and headed to the house. 

The following morning I called the Rest Home and explained the situation and who I was and said I was going there right away. I arrived at the Home about twenty minutes later. A nurse was expecting me and lead me to the garden on the back of the building and pointed to a tall, slender old man sitting on a white garden chair. He was motionless, staring at a small wooded area in front of him. The nurse grabbed my hand and started to walk, almost pulling me so that I’d keep step with her. We walked around and stood right in front of him. He moved his face in our direction and just stared at me silent. The nurse told him that I was Eleanor. “Eleanor? He said in a muffled, tired voice; who is Eleanor?” He asked. I couldn’t believe he didn’t recognize me. I had sent him a recent picture of myself in my last letter. The nurse said: “Mr. Sumter, Eleanor is your daughter!”

I ran to him and hugged him very hard and kissed his face repeatedly, tears running down my face. “It’s me, daddy!” I cried. “I came to take care of you. No one will separate us anymore. I’ll be by your side every day of my life”. I kept hugging and kissing him. The nurse said she would leave us alone and asked me to call her if I needed her. She walked away and sat at a swing bench, by the front door of the Home. I grabbed a white, plastic chair a few steps away and dragged it over right in front of dad. I sat on it and grabbed dad’s hands. I started to talked about our lives, and of how much fun we had together, and all the beautiful holydays we had spent happy together. Daddy just looked at me. For a while there, he seemed to have a spark of memory. He said: “You are my Eleanor, the joy of my life?” “Yes, daddy,… and I jumped to his arms, “…Yes! I am your Eleanor and I love you so much”…

I asked his doctor next morning about dad’s illness. He said that my father was very different from other patients with the same illness, and he seemed to have a good potential of a small regeneration and that with the right kind of love and stimulus he could lead a near normal life for a good while yet. He said also that my father had fell into that deep lethargy due to the loss of his beloved wife and also by not having me around at the same time. 

The next day I had the house cleaned and straightened up and also I hired a gardening contractor to redo the garden and made sure they would take extra care with mom’s rose garden. 

I quit the Army and cashed in on my pension to make sure daddy and I would have a good, happy and comfortable life for as long as God would want us to. I also hired a nice, clean and devoted private nurse to help me take care of dad. 

The following week I took daddy to the cemetery to visit mom’s tomb. We walked, arm in arm, until we got to it. There was a picture of my mom, Judith, on the tombstone and the inscription said: RIP

Judith M. Sumter * 12-24-1930 - +1-06-1990 - Beloved wife of  Wilhelm Sumter and Mother of Eleanor Sumter.  -  ”Come on dad, let’s sit here”, I said leading him gently to set on the stone and asked: “Daddy, will you do me a favor? … Will you read to me what’s written on the tombstone? He proceeded in a low, trembling voice, reading slowly what was written on it. After he finished, I said on a low, loving tone of voice: “See, daddy? Judith M. Sumter was your wife and she was my mom and I am your daughter. After a few seconds he answered slowly: “I know Judith was, no, she is my wife and I am her husband and you are our daughter”. I hugged and kissed him on the cheeks again an again. “Yes, daddy, you are absolutely right! And no one shall ever separate us ever, ever again”!

He slid over closer to the inscription, rubbed his right hand slowly and tenderly on Judith’s name and said: “Did you hear our daughter my love? Yes, you heard that right. We will take good care of each other and we will love each other”. And then he kissed her picture gently and long. Then I got up and did the same. I said to dad: “Daddy, from now on we’ll come an visit mom every week, at least once a week. Is that alright with you? “I’m with you all the way, my sweet daughter”. 

My dad improved a lot. He was able to remember lots of things. He seemed very happy and he even put on weight. We kept his treatment at home. His doctor came to see him once in a while and he was amazed on how much my dad improved. Once he said that he knew my father could improve but he said he didn’t expect him to improve that much. 

I guess love has a fantastic healing power.

A medical romance is story that revolves around a medical atmosphere. For those people who love the hospital scene, you will not be disappointed by the medical romance stories that are out there. They are set against a medical backdrop which is not only intriguing but, will ensure that you are touched by the power of medicine and love. The Internet will provide you a guide of some of the top romance stories that are medical. The following is an example of some of the stories that you will find. A bride and a child worth waiting for, one magical Christmas, a mommy for Christmas, the Italian surgeon’s Christmas miracle and so many others. These books are for people who are passionate about reading. When it comes to romance, many people will be interested in reading. This is because all people are wired to yearn for it. Therefore, it is vital; for you to make up your mind and look for the romance that will be suitable for you and start reading. You can read e-books and, you can also choose to buy the books. In a world where technology has made things easier, you need to get reading or you will be left behind.

The following is a description of a medical romance titled ‘a mommy for Christmas’. This is a medical romance tale which centers around Kate Burgess a specialist and a new surgeon in the medical center called James McEwen who is always late for work. When Kate becomes curious why the surgeon is always late, she finds out that it is because of little angels. The doctor has to take care of the children. The exciting tale leads us to the place where Kate decides to offer her help. The tale is about the triumphs of a single parent who also finds himself temporarily without a home. The couple blossoms as they get to interact in a deeper way. All this plays out during the Christmas season and as you will discover, the children have their very own special wish. Read the romance story and discover whether the children got their wish. You will also get to discover the intricacies that play out even as James draws closer to Kate. You will be tempted to go on and on.

You can purchase the above medical romance online. Looking for the right offers will land you on the best deal possible for you. For more details, you will find help online and get to know more about the book. The medical stories of romance will also be found in your local book store and, you can look for the prices that will suit your budget most. Have fun while reading and, when you find that a book is excellent, do not hesitate to recommend it to your friends. You can also write a review which will touch on the strength of the book. Otherwise, if you are the kind of person who is not into reading, why not start on a good one today. Romance is not like other things. It will capture the audience of all people who are capable of love.

Kissing is an expression of love and nothing can be more intimate when trying to convey your deepest sincerest tender devotion to your girl. Girls, to make it known, view kissing as the most personal physical expression of their feelings to the opposite sex, and it’s your job to make sure to make it very romantic. So make it worth both your while, learn how to be a good kisser and make your girl want more. Here’s how:

• Be adventurous. There are different kinds of kisses you might want to try with your girl. The most sensual and intimate of course, is the French kiss, which involves the tongue and lips. Do not be contended with a smack or pure tongue touching. Explore each others’ mouths and lips and give in to your wildest imagination. Your girl will be crying out your name in no time.
• Be sensual. Let her know that you like kissing her. During the act, hold on to her tighter and kiss more and more intimately. As the passion increases so as your touch. Let her realize that you’re having a good time kissing her and you want her to do the same.
• Be clean. Of course, this is the most basic, most critical rule if you really want to be a good kisser. Being clean is a turn-on, and you know well enough no one wants to have some smooch action with someone who just ate garlic, or worse, someone who doesn’t brush their teeth well. So have your toothbrush get busy, shower well and spray some cologne. Scent is an aphrodisiac so anything foul doesn’t have room during your kissing sessions.

Well, if you would like to discover more intimate details about how to be a good kisser, do visit my website to get your hands on my FREE information which has helped thousands of men get women they thought they never had a chance with! If you are justly serious about mastering the art of attraction and being able to date and seduce ANY girl you want, visit my free website.

Imagine if your partner truly felt appreciated! If you’ve been around someone who feels depressed and worthless, you know how much better it is to be around someone who is upbeat and feels loved, appreciated, and wanted. You can improve your relationship dramatically by simply making a list of things you are grateful for - specifically things about your partner. And there are added benefits to this strategy, too; it helps you improve your attitude and gain a more appreciative perspective - both of which will do wonders for your relationship.

So make a list of all the things about your partner that you appreciate and admire; write down all the things about your partner that you are grateful for. Write your partner a note listing all the reasons you are grateful for their company, and for them being in your life. Don’t just do this once; do this as often as you can - and read the lists you make as frequently as possible, too. Besides making your partner feel good, you will gradually program yourself to think in terms of appreciation - and to notice the good things about your partner and relationship. You and your partner both need frequent reminders of how grateful you are.

If there are things about your partner that you don’t like, simply add the opposite trait to your list of things you are grateful for. In other words, if you wish your partner paid more attention to you, simply add to your gratitude list the fact that you are grateful for all the attention your partner lavishes on you. It might feel like a lie at first; but continuing to affirm this desired, new reality will ultimately lead to changes in both you and your partner. You will feel better and less stressed; and your partner will respond favorably to your blessings and affirmation. And, in the meantime, you are practicing gratitude, acceptance, and love rather than continuing to stress yourself out with a reality conflict.

We are constantly reminded that love is very special and being a lover, a partner, a spouse, or a significant other, is a very special role we play. Hearts and flowers aside, what makes love so special is the intimacy. It’s not about being naked with your partner, but about allowing them to see your nakedness with all its flaws. I don’t mean that birthmark on your right thigh, either; I mean the guts of a relationship - honesty, communication, and self-care.

We can talk about the little flaws, like their annoying snoring or chewing with their mouths open or leaving the toilet seat up or down, but there are bigger fish for us to fry. Changing the way you think and act translate into personal growth and intimacy in your relationship:

oGame-playing: We play games that keep us from being honest with our partner. Think about your behavior when you want something and you manipulate a situation in order to get it. Game-playing keeps us from truly being ourselves. It often becomes so much a part of the relationship that we lose site of what’s real after a while. For some people game-playing is easier and safer than being open with their partner. It is a learned behavior that tells us if you want something just manipulate to get it. Honesty allows for messages to be clearer, increasing the bond between you.

oCommunication: Communication is the nuts and bolts of any relationship. If you aren’t communicating you may as well pack it in. Of course, couples find their own special way of communicating, which may include years of not communicating at all. Communication is verbal and non-verbal. We speak and we verbalize our needs. We use our body language to do the same. Letting our needs known to the other person is what improves the quality of communication.

Communication is a two-way street, however, and this means that if there is no one on the receiving end able to translate those needs then the communication has failed. A failed communication leads us to feeling like something is missing in the relationship and decreases one’s self-esteem, leading to feeling resentful and angry. Learning to communicate is learning to listen. Sometimes men are told that they listen (and think) with other parts of their bodies rather than their brain. I think it’s true for both sexes. Improving communication skills involves first caring enough about the other person to want to listen to them and second to identify the verbal and non-verbal signals that are being expressed. Then practice listening!

oSelf-Care: Caring for your self includes emotional well-being and self-care. The way you present yourself to your partner, or the world for that matter, makes all the difference. Improving your self-care, means taking a long hard look in the mirror. Are you taking good care of your physical well-being, eating right, exercising, and monitoring your health? Do you look your best and practice good hygiene? It really all comes down to the question, are you the person you would want to come home to each night? That’s a tough, but important, question, because it makes you stop and take a look at all the qualities that you would want in a partner. Think about what makes you feel good, what turns you on, and how much you are willing to sacrifice to get and keep it. Losing the excess weight, taking the extra shower, cutting down on the junk food, exercising a few times a week, and generally maintaining a healthy outlook on life will improve your self-care considerably in a short time. In the long run you will look and feel better.

Guaranteed, if you improve in the areas of honesty, communication-style, and self-care, your life will be better and open to many possibilities. It has to start with you. Being in a relationship means you have the ability to relate with someone else. Listening attentively and giving more of your self is the answer to so many of life’s problems. I don’t mean to oversimplify it, but if you get really honest, open your eyes and ears, and look in the mirror your life will improve and intimacy will increase with each passing day.

JJR NY ©

Some women have an obsession about keeping their man happy. Yes, there are hundreds of thousands of beautiful women in the world and at least a few hundred of them would want to snatch your man away from you in a heartbeat! BUT, can you stop that from happening to you?

As long your man feels comfortable and he’s happy why would he want to leave you? He wouldn’t, woman are so hard on themselves they spend hours looking in mirrors and trying to find something wrong with them. On a good day women can usually find at least a half a dozen things they would like to make changes on themselves. Why? It is because our society paints such a beautiful picture for women to live up to. A picture that NO women could live up to not even the most beautiful super models in the world, that picture is a figment of all women’s minds, each picture is different and just out of reach for perfection. Well, ladies it’s a good thing we are human and perfection is not achievable.

Now forget about all those women in the world and concentrate on keeping your man happy. It’s not as hard as it may seem. You need to take care of yourself so you feel good and look good. If you feel good about yourself your man will feel good about you.

When the two of you go out for a night on the town get that little black dress or red sexy number out of the closet and slip it on he’s going to be very happy if you’re feeling good about yourself! I might point out here it doesn’t matter if you’re a size 2 or a 2X he loves you and finds you sexy.

Treat him like a king and yourself like a queen and if you’re happy with yourself your man will feel happy too. Ladies keeping your man happy is within your power and it has nothing to do with wanting to be in the perfect shape to be beautiful.

Putting all your energies into the care of a new baby can take its toll on your relationship with your partner. His needs may take a back seat while you focus on your little bundle of joy. The strain won’t show immediately but it can make you drift apart if you don’t give your relationship some attention.

Bodily changes, aches and tiredness are some of the reasons that keep you from nurturing a loving relationship with your partner. While they are seemingly logical reasons for losing touch with one another, those reasons eventually disappear as your baby grows older.

Don’t wait for your marriage or relationship to deteriorate further. There are things that you can do to re-ignite the passion that was there before your baby came along. Here are some tips to get you started:

Act like singles

Go out on dates regularly. You can have your date night when your baby is under the care of an immediate family member or a sitter you can trust. With a young baby, you can’t always have spontaneity with your partner. But that should not keep you from enjoying each other’s company while you are out on your own.

Spend some time preparing for your date by choosing something nice to wear or even agreeing to meet up instead of going to your date venue together. The idea is to simulate a date with someone you just met. This will raise the excitement level a notch higher than if you went out as husband and wife. When you go out on dates, try to have a conversation about each other while keeping discussions about your new baby to a minimum.

Flirt with your partner

Oftentimes, a relationship hits a plateau when things begin to normalize and feel like a special friendship instead of a romantic one. To keep the romantic fire burning, be like two lovebirds that can’t get enough of each other.

Occasional public displays of affection tend to disappear over time as most couples think that the home is the only place to be comfortable with one another. There is nothing more exciting than giving your partner a kiss to show him that you are happy while you are out shopping or taking a walk.

Holding hands while walking is also a simple way to connect while you are out. During the day, surprise your husband with simple messages that show you miss him or long for him. Text messaging is a great way to flirt with your husband without disrupting his work.

Make coming home to you a treat for your husband

While both of you may have had long days away from each other, a simple hug and kiss the moment he enters your home is always a welcome treat. Do it as a matter of routine and your husband will look forward to it as he ends his day at work.

Be unpredictable

You can be whatever you want to be with your husband behind closed doors. This is where a little imagination and some effort on your part will come in. The old routine may still be fine but a man always appreciates the unexpected as something new will leave him wondering what else is in store for him.

Inject some fun into your private lives. Buy new lingerie or put on a sexy wig. Set the mood with scented candles and bubble baths together. The possibilities are endless if you set your mind into creating them.

Always look your best

Men are visual creatures. Most men complain that marriage makes a woman complacent. While women used to spend lots of time prepping for a date when they were single, no such enthusiasm to please their husbands exists once they become domesticated.

Now I realize that having a baby can leave you with little to no enthusiasm to worry about how you look. There is definitely a time when your appearance should be the last thing on your mind. But once you are through the worst of the sleep deprivation and overwhelm of a new baby, just a few minutes a day can make your husband feel better and will also make you feel more confident.

It doesn’t take much time and energy to maintain good hygiene. Simple things like freshening up shortly before you expect your husband to come home and putting on lipstick in a color closest to your skin tone can make you a welcome sight.

You don’t have to watch the passion in your marriage dwindle after your new baby is born. All it takes is a little effort and a lot of imagination to keep the fires burning. While you may presume that having a baby takes away a few sexy points away from you, you will be surprised to know that a new shape and a renewed spunk are extremely sexy to a man.

In the last article, you have learned how to maximize your wealth luck. In this article, I will show you how you can maximize your romance luck in 2008. Valentine’s Day is exactly 10 days after the start of the Rat year. I hope you will implement what you learn here, so that this Valentine’s Day will be a different one for you.

Today, you will be looking at the romance star, the 9-Purple Star. The 9-Purple Star is an auspicious star. It brings happiness and romance. If you happen to work or sleep in the sector where the 9-Purple Star is, you will have a high tendency to get married or to meet that special someone.

This year, the 9-Purple Star is in the South East. If you are looking to activate the 9-Purple Star, you need to know if you are occupying the South East sector of your house. If you are not sure how to locate the South East sector of your house, please refer to my previous article “How To Make Sure You Maximize Your Wealth Luck In 2008″.

If you are occupying the South East sector in your house, or your bed is in the South East sector of your bedroom, then 2008 will be a romantic year for you.

Now, I will reveal to you the secrets of how you can activate the South East sector. . .

1. Place your cell phone charger in the South East sector of your bedroom. As the cell phone charger is a source of Fire, and the 9-Purple Star represents Fire, this will strengthen the 9-Purple Star.

2. Hang 9 Chilies in the South East sector. It could be dried chilies, chilies you buy from the supermarket, or toy chilies made of plastic.

3. Place a coconut in the South East sector. The coconut represents Wood, which strengthens Fire.

4. Place a red vase with 9 red roses in the South East sector.

5. Everyday, when leaving your house, walk towards South East first before proceeding to your destination.

6. When you get down from your bed, get down from the South East corner of your bed.

7. Place 4 wooden ducks in the South East sector.

8. Place 9 tortoises in the South East sector. Preferably wooden ones. Live ones will work as well.

If you can implement the above, I guarantee that your romance luck will improve this year.

One more thing before I end. There is one family member who will have a very romantic year. This is good news to all the eldest daughters.

Basing on the I-ching, the South East represents the eldest daughter of the household. If you are the eldest daughter in your family and you are staying with your parents, this year will be a very good year for romance. However, this only applies if you are staying with your parents. If you are staying alone, you become the mother of the household instead.

So if you are staying alone, I advise you to go back and stay with your parents. If not for the whole year, at least for one month, from 7th September to 8th October, when the 9-Purple star is at its strongest in the South East sector.

If you are a parent, staying with your kids, then you can look forward to hearing good news that your eldest daughter is having a romantic year.

If you are not the eldest daughter in the household, then just implement the 8 secrets that I revealed to you. You still have from now till the 4th February to implement them. I wish you all the best for a romantic 2008.

In my next article, I will share with you how to avoid misfortune and sickness in 2008. Stay tuned.

Does the woman of your dream give you sleepless nights? Do you want to hug her, kiss her and kiss her some more as you take her into your arms and make love? She may be a colleague at work, she may be your tutor, she may be your neighbor, she may be your landlord, she may be your crush or she may be just a close friend you want to get ‘closer’ to. Here’s a secret, every woman in the world loves to be ravished by kisses. There is no girl worth a salt who wouldn’t love to be kissed. The same goes for your dream girl.

She too craves to be kissed, loved and desired. But how do you create the right mood for her, how do you charm her before she puckers up for you! How do you create that bitter sweet longing in the woman…to kiss and to be kissed! Kissing is an art which has to be perfected. Kissing 101 provides the right answer. The book written by Michelle Penney, Kissing 101 is a quality product that rises above just the mere techniques of kissing. More than kissing, what are important is to know how to create the right scene, how to mentally charm a lady into feeling comfortable in your presence, and how to let the lady feel beautiful in your charisma.

Can you imagine you can flatter, impress and ravish a woman with different types of kisses? There is a huge world of kisses waited to be explored, and most of them need to have the right ‘timing’ and the right ‘moment’. Such ‘intangible’ things of how and when to make the right move to make the kiss look like a transition rather than an interruption is neatly described in Kissing 101. Apart from the eBook, Kissing 101 has four free super bonus offer which include information on how to overcome your shyness while dating, how to be a master kisser, an audio course on managing your etiquette and also an email consultation where all your relationship problems are sought to be resolved by Michelle Penney. Kissing 101 is an amazingly good buy for anyone who loves to kissing, enjoys kissing and wants to know more about kissing. Priced at a modest $19.95, The book has a look in period of 8 weeks which means in case you are not satisfied with the product, you can send an email to Michelle Penney and the money will be refunded, no questions asked.

In my work with couples over the years, I’ve learned that it’s just as important to take note of what’s working in a relationship than what isn’t. And, although people have different ways of naming it, what many successful couples share in common is the ability to take perspective.

The ability to take perspective is vital to your relationship. Let’s look at some of the ways taking perspective works:

The big-picture mindset

When your relationship hits a lull or rough patch, you become nearsighted. You see all the problems that are close at hand clearly while the other parts of your relationship (which might include a loving history and numerous strengths) becomes blurred. For many couples this can lead to serious problems since their relationship begins to feel broken and hopeless.

If you hold a big-picture mindset, you’re able to experience the trials and tribulations that all couples go through without drowning in them. This is because you’re able to hold onto the other, positive facets of your relationship while you’re dealing with the stressful events. This larger perspective allows you to be upset with your partner in the moment while feeling secure about the relationship.

The awareness of life’s transitory nature

When you’ve encountered pain in your life, you may have heard or recalled the oft-repeated phrase, “This, too shall pass.” For many, the mindset that all experiences — even difficult ones — have a beginning and an end provides comfort. If you and your partner adopt this approach, you’ll be better equipped to weather the stormy periods every relationship experiences, because you’ll hold onto the hope that in time the tides will shift in your favor.

This is a powerful form of perspective-taking. It places all events on a timeline. Have you ever noticed how something can feel so enormous one day yet almost insignificant a few days later? You can use the perspective of “This too shall pass” by asking yourself the following question:

How important is this issue to me today? How important will it a month from now? A year from now?

Answering these questions will help you build greater perspective in your relationship. Note that using this kind of perspective should never become an excuse for not working on issues that are important to you and your partner. This isn’t about developing a laissez faire attitude. Rather, it’s to help you place events in a perspective that will allow you to work on issues in a level-headed manner.

Stepping in your partner’s shoes

Your viewpoint is one reality and your partner’s is another. At times these viewpoints will overlap (and your relationship will feel harmonious), while at other times they will be quite different (causing tension between you and your partner). When differences exist, it’s reflexive to defend your own position and see your partner as wrong or unsympathetic. Since your partner is probably feeling the same way about you, this is a lose-lose situation for your relationship. In these moments couples often become deeply entrenched in their conflicting positions and wage a futile battle.

What do you think would happen if you were to temporarily shelve your well-defended opinions and attempt to see the world through your partner’s eyes? Such a flexible and empathic stance will allow you and your partner to feel connected even while disagreeing with one another. Taking your partner’s perspective (even when you might not agree with him or her) is a surefire way to keep your relationship strong and healthy. I realize this is easier said than done and, once emotions escalate, nearly impossible.

A good rule of thumb is to practice taking your partner’s perspective (while s/he practices taking yours), before things get too heated. You’ll avoid many unnecessary fights and feel closer to each other this way.