While not a very romantic notion, your romantic relationship is a lot like a car.
At the start, it is all bright, shiny and new. You may have taken out others for a test drive before deciding that this was the right one for you. It’s exciting. Every time you see it, you get a a jolt of happiness and can’t believe that it’s actually yours.
It smells really good.
After some time, that initial excitement wears off a bit. It’s comfortable, it’s dependable, it meets most of your needs.
After even after more time, you’ve become totally used to it. That thrill has been replaced with annoyance at times. There are things you wish it had. There are changes you would make to it. You may even find that newer models catch your eye, but you are committed.
Sometimes, a bit of neglect may even set in. You know you should spend a bit more time on it, but there’s always something else that needs your attention. You may even take it for granted.
Unlike relationships though, no matter how messy your car may get, you do regular maintenance on it. The oil gets changed. It gets gas on a regular basis. After a certain age, it even gets forced check ups to ensure that its not spewing too many harmful gases into the atmosphere.
Our relationships need maintenance too, but these can often go neglected for far too long. Here are a few suggestions on how to maintain your relationship to prevent it from breaking down during the long haul;
Do a regular relationship check-in. How are you each feeling? Does anything need to be addressed? Don’t let the small rust spot become a gigantic hole.
Spend time together, just the two of you. It doesn’t have to be complex or fancy. Decide that one evening a week is booked for just the two of you to hang out, chat and reconnect.
Reminisce about the beginning of your relationships. After years together, it can be hard to connect to why you picked this person as your partner. Stroll down memory lane about when you first met, your first trip together, a memorable date. Triggering those old feelings can give your relationship a boost!
Reconnect physically. Just like hitting the open road in your previously beloved car can re-spark your appreciation for your vehicle, connecting on a physical level can re-spark feelings for each other. Even holding hands can help to reconnect
Make plans for the future together. Talk about a trip you would like to take together. Plan out your next date. Envision what like will look like in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. Get excited about the experiences that you will have together.
With regular maintenance, both your romantic relationship and your car, can last for years, through many season changes and help you get to where you need to go. Although that new car smell eventually wears off, it can still excite you in different ways.