Romantic Relationships

Perhaps you’ve been unhappy for a while, or maybe in the midst of a heated argument, you caught yourself imagining what life would be like with someone else. You precariously utter those 4 words: "I want a divorce." Maybe you meant them, maybe you didn’t, but now you opened that door you hoped would always stay closed.

You've lived through the warning signs that your marriage is in trouble. You're done snapping at each other and being miserable. It's time to make a new plan. But, you ask yourself, "Where did things go wrong" in an attempt to understand. The thing is, marriages and long-term relationships tend to go downhill over the course of time, so it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when the decline started. However, when you do acknowledge that things are just not working well, and you've done all that you can, it's time to consider ended things. Here are 3 things you can do to stay emotionally healthy before and during a divorce.

A speedy engagement might be the best choice for some people, depending on their situation. But there are many couples who believe a long engagement could be just the thing to ensure that their relationship lasts. Is it possible that spending more time in the in-between state of engagement can make your relationship stronger? Let's take a look at some strong points in favor of it.

Are you always the bridesmaid and never the bride? Do you find yourself waiting, hoping and praying that your partner is going to ask that all-important question? Is it your turn? If you have answered yes to these questions then, perhaps, now is the time to take that next step with your partner and make 2017 the year you get married. But how do you go about doing that? Easy! I thought I would share with you some ideas on how you can take the next step in your relationship. I hope it inspires you to get things moving along.

You and your partner have decided to declare your love for each other in front of your nearest and dearest, and you couldn’t be more excited to do so. You’ve got the whole day planned out, from where you’ll say “I do” to how you’ll celebrate afterward. Your special day wouldn't be complete without wedding vows to remember. Do I sense a subtle cringe? I get it, you're not a poet. Don't worry, I've compiled a few hints and tips to get you started.

Getting quality alone time with your partner can be challenging, especially if you have children. Yes, we parents said goodbye to spontaneous one-on-one adventures as soon as we left the delivery room. But, even childless couples can get into a pattern of neglecting the intimacy they once knew. No matter what the reason is for the neglect in this area, there are some solutions if you are willing to make some plans and stick to them. Try these 4 things out to spice things up and find that magical alone time you long for.

While some relationships grow and prosper over time, others just aren’t meant to last. If your relationship has been on the rocks for a while, …

Whether it’s his birthday, your anniversary or you just fancy treating him, picking out the perfect gift can be tricky. Let’s be honest about it; …

Starting a new relationship with someone is equally exciting as it is confusing. You’ve met someone who interests you and the feeling seems to be mutual. But at this initial stage, things are unsure, as you may have no idea what the other person is thinking. You may not even know for sure what you feel. What you think they might want could be the total opposite and vice versa. This could lead to stress and misunderstanding that could be easily avoided. The way you navigate the early stages of a new relationship just might determine whether it's long term or just a fling. We all want our relationships to succeed. Fortunately, there are some things you can do at the beginning to give the romance a fighting chance. Here are my 6 golden rules that will help you enjoy your time together and give your relationship a fantastic start.

Why is it that some relationships flow so naturally, and others are rocky right from the start? Sure, every relationship is going to have endeavors, but being with someone should not feel forced or like a job. The majority of the time the reasoning for these bumpy relationships is that they are simply with the wrong person. Some of you may believe there is one true love for everybody. So, how can you tell if the one you’re with is right for you? And is there really only one soul that’s right?

Let’s be honest, the dating game is a demanding jungle. You'll find yourself spending hours on Tinder, only to end up on a painfully awkward date with someone, who is nothing like their given online persona. Dating can be hard, and it seemingly gets more discouraging as you get older.

So you’ve been single for a while and have decided that the time has come to meet someone new. The question is, where do you start? It might seem confusing knowing the best ways to meet a new partner, but it’s actually much easier than you think. To help you meet some new people, we’ve put together four useful ideas below:

I’ve recently discovered the pleasure, and pain, of being a motorcycle passenger. With that came an education in the definition of ‘squid’ according to the book of Mark. No, not that book. I’m talking about the book of Mark Hardman, my life partner and fellow adventurist. According to him, a squid is a newbie who is also a poser. On the road a squid is the guy wearing flip-flops, hunched way down over his bike while driving 65 mph or the girl wearing a bikini. They think they look like a sexy pro, but really just look a bit silly, and risky, to the experienced rider.

I am curious, when you got married, what did you think? Were you prepared for the road ahead? Did you talk about major life decisions? Did you both know and agree on the big things like children, money and goals? Were you even thinking about it, or did you think that once you said "I do", you would just live happily ever after?

Recently, I moved. This move involved foreclosure on a home I loved and had lived in for the past 14 years. The loss of the house was part of the fall-out of my divorce. I saw it coming long ago, so it wasn’t a surprise. I had plenty of time to come to terms with the need to move away from rooms I had spent three years faux-finishing and the garden I had grown from barren clay soil. During the move, my sex drive diminished. I was exhausted, and when I sat down to write, I couldn't focus. For the first time in 5 years, I experienced writer's block.