While a relationship requires a few things to remain healthy and balanced, it seems the most important aspects are easily overlooked.
People who do pay attention to details are the ones who you can trust to stand by your side and weather the storm. These are the types of people who understand that the small things count the most because those are the things you do for someone simply because you love them, with no special occasion required.
So, then, what are some examples of these smaller romantic acts that, in reality, speak volumes?
1. Love notes
I know, we’re not in high school anymore…but all the more reason that nobody would expect to open a small piece of paper with “I miss you” or “I love you” written on it. It’s free, easy, and can be left anywhere to surprise him or her. A surefire way to put a smile on his face.
I know from experience how amazing it feels to have your significant other do something like this for you.
2. Listen
In a healthy relationship, each partner relies on the other for love, guidance, and advice. Sometimes, just taking the time to genuinely listen to what she has to say, and not saying anything at all – will say more to her than your words ever could.
Particularly for the guys: If a woman is complaining to you, remember that it means she trusts you enough to express her feelings to you. Don’t betray that trust.
3. Do that thing he or she wants to do
Whether it is watching a TV show your significant other enjoys, going to see the musical you’re not really into, or trying that new restaurant with the cuisine you don’t really care for – do it anyway (and have a good attitude about it). Relationships are about compromise, which means at times we do things we wouldn’t normally do in order to make the person we care about happy. They will appreciate your effort and enjoy the experience even more because they get to share it with you.
4. Send a good morning text
A text that starts your partner’s day on a good note doesn’t just say ‘good morning,’ it says ‘you are the first person I thought of when I woke up this morning.’
5. Do what you say you’re going to do [Be reliable]
Reliability, how boring. Reliability is the reason you buy a Toyota Corolla, not excitement. It’s not glamorous or particularly interesting – but you know what? When you walk outside in the morning and turn the key you know that sucker is going to start up without a flinch no matter how much it has been through.
A great romantic partner is someone you can count on without having to worry about it. You know they are going to be there for you when you need it.
6. Pay close attention and react accordingly [Be thoughtful]
In a relationship and in life, I believe many of us overlook the importance of thoughtfulness. Life moves quickly and we often get so wrapped up in our day-to-day routines that we lose sight of how important it is to work to make our significant other happy as well. This includes learning one another’s likes and dislikes, supporting each other during difficult times, and encouraging each other during the good times.
It includes paying attention to small details and doing special things accordingly that we know each other will like. Being thoughtful helps us live, connect, and love more deeply with others.
7. Be patient with your partner
Patience is an essential trait in someone we hope to build a strong relationship with. It takes patience to learn about each other and our personality differences. It takes patience to adjust, and to remain kind while they adjust. It takes patience to have productive discussions rather than arguments.
8. Be honest
This is another big one. It may not seem like it, because honesty should be a quality that you express towards everyone in your daily life – but being honest with a man or woman you care about will show that you respect them enough to be straight up.
Choose your words carefully, don’t express your honesty in a way that would hurt feelings, but make sure your partner knows that they will get a straight answer when they come to you for one, no matter what it’s about.
9. Make your partner feel safe
This is not about physical safeness, but also emotional safeness. Just because men enjoy the feeling of physically protecting the woman they love from harm, doesn’t mean they don’t need to feel safe in their own ways as well.
Some men find it more difficult than others to emotionally open up and express themselves. In order to do so, they need to know they are not going to be judged for their feelings. Safety, in all uses of the word, is important for both partners to feel.
10. Always be willing to compromise
While of course, you should be compatible with your teammate, that doesn’t mean that you will automatically love every single thing they love, and vice versa. If you truly care for someone and their happiness, you will be willing to watch, do, see, and experience things they enjoy, as they would do for you in return.
Without compromise, we can easily find our relationships resembling a see-saw with a huge boulder on one side, the distribution never shifts.
As Robert Brault said:
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.”
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Author: James Michael Sama
James Michael Sama is an internationally recognized speaker and author, widely referred to as America’s leading relationship writer. With over 37 million pageviews accumulated on his website and a collective social media following of over 400,000. James speaks at live events across the U.S. and has become a go-to expert with media outlets such as CNN, Bravo, The New York Post, The Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, CNBC, and more.
