Last weekend I went out for a few drinks with some gal pals (or maybe more than a few drinks, who’s counting?!) We were all chatting about marriage, families, relationships... the usual things. One thing really stuck with me though, and that was when one of the group asked the question:
“When was the last time you did something lovely for your partner?”
It seems like such a simple statement, but it really did make me think. I am certainly guilty (as I’m sure most of us are) of putting in loads of effort into the relationship during those first couple of weeks and months, with sweet romantic gestures, and doing super thoughtful and spontaneous things. So further down the line in your relationship why should these things be shelved for birthdays and anniversaries, just because you and your partner have become comfortable with each other and it’s no longer new?
Doing Something Nice For Your Partner is not just about booking a romantic minibreak, buying flowers “just because”, or getting some awesome gig tickets for you both – although all these things are amazing obviously! It can be about the little things too. Things that don’t require much expense, or extravagance, but still show thought and care.
One of the lovely ladies I was sipping on gin with that night, said that her boyfriend gets up every morning to make her a cuppa, and leaves a little love note in the tin with the tea bags for her to find later. I just thought it was the sweetest gesture, and yet something so simple and easy to do.
So if you’re asking yourself “when’s the last time you did something nice for your partner”, and you perhaps can’t remember, or it’s been a while, act on it! Run your partner a bubble bath after a hard day or wake up on a weekend and make them their favourite brunch…
I think that asking this question may well be one of the secrets to a super happy relationship – I know I’m certainly going to start asking myself it more often.