#long-term-relationships

#long-term-relationships

My husband and I are in our 60s. We have been married for 40 years, some of it happily, some not so much. Our children are grown up and gone, and we have recently retired. Some of our tensions over the years have been around my husband's tendency to be undermining and belittling. He claims not to understand why I might find certain things upsetting, yet refuses to engage with couples counselling (apparently I would tell lies).

My grandparents, whom I call Papa and GG, have been together since they were teenagers and married for 54 years. As I've grown up, I've realized the secret to their lasting love hasn't been perfection or grand gestures. Instead, it's in finding joy and meaning in life's small, everyday moments. Their marriage has taught me how powerful a gentle, consistent love can be, and how beautifully it can shape everything around it.

Most of these traditions began out of necessity. One couple I spoke with started their at-home Valentine's tradition 35 years ago when they had two kids under five and couldn't afford both a babysitter and a nice dinner. They decided to put the kids to bed early, cook steaks together, and eat by candlelight in their dining room. "We thought we'd go back to restaurants once the kids were older and we had more money," the wife told me, laughing.

You Are Normal You are normal if you are in a long-term relationship, and by that I mean you've been together more than a handful of years, and you struggle with some aspects of sensual desire and your sexual life. When I survey the couples who attend my masterclass, only 6 percent of them say they still have a great sex life. This is true of couples of all ages and stages.

If you're in a long-term relationship, you and your partner likely have a few poses that work like a charm - and you stick with them every time. While there's no shame in having faves or knowing what works, it can also be fun to try new sex positions, especially when you're looking to spice things up. After all, it's not uncommon for established couples to fall into a rut, says Jonathan Bennett, dating and relationship expert at Double Trust Dating.

Sure, it's possible. It'll be even more likely to happen if your friend and her boyfriend have an honest, frank conversation about their wants and the details of their individual timetables. While it might seem obvious that, after 20 years, he should want to propose, especially considering he's already designed a dream wedding, the only way to find out what he's really thinking is talking to him about it. This is also the only way for your friend to let him know what she's thinking.

Emotional intimacy in a relationship is when two people share a connection and feel a closeness that allows them to share their innermost feelings while feeling safe and supported.

Choosing a life partner is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make, shaping your daily happiness, emotional well-being, and future dreams for decades.