When you have a good person in your life appreciate them. It’s the little things they notice most. You don’t have to buy them gifts or spend your last dollar but let your presence be known. If you can’t show them that you love them all the words in the world won’t convince them.

Even more importantly bringing a smile to someone else’s face is equally gratifying. Smiles are contagious and even if you find yourself patting your own back know that in turn their happiness may also bring you happiness later.

A relationship shouldn’t be built on stipulations and benefits alone. You have to compliment and appreciate each other. If your other half can’t get your time and attention than there’s something wrong. Never get too busy to notice one another. Truth is while you’re busy complimenting someone else it’s more than likely another someone else is busy trying to take your spot.

For the men reading this please understand that although most women are care givers and homemakers by nature they are not obligated to wash your dirty drawers. Don’t forget to thank her when your clothes make it back to the closet cleaned and ironed. Remember her role is that of a partner not a parent.

To the ladies, the man is no longer obligated to put a roof over your head especially not when you’re screaming independence. Don’t forget to say thank you when the bills get paid and your refrigerator stays full.

Even if you’ve made an agreement to wash the clothes or pay the bills don’t assume you will always be able. There may come a day when the roles are reversed or you are no longer able to. Don’t wait until it’s too late to say thank you and show your appreciation.

Everybody doesn’t always see eye to eye. Disagreements happen often and for many different reasons. Some disagreements are minor and end as fast as they began but other times the argument goes on and on without either party walking away happy.

Most likely the length of the argument is determined by the personalities of the two parties involved. If both parties are determined to be right and more importantly to have the last word the disagreement will probably never end. Learning how to agree to disagree isn’t always easy but it will usually allow the disagreement to end with some sort of agreement versus a never ending battle.

Anytime I have a disagreement I try to understand why the other person feels the need to argue their side. Are they wrong? Am I wrong? Are we both wrong? Was it just a misunderstanding? I really prefer to stay “drama-free” but that isn’t always possible. The only thing that gets me more upset than the disagreement itself is when the other person refuses to take the time to imagine or understand how I feel. I by no means expect them to feel how I feel but certainly I’d like for them to momentarily put themselves in my shoes.

When all else fails it’s best to hear both sides and agree to disagree. After all if we both think we are right then it will go on forever. Don’t get this confused though with agreeing just to silence the other party. That won’t make you feel better nor will it really solve the problem. When you find yourself in some sort of battle be sure to listen. You might find that the other person’s argument makes sense. If you don’t feel how they feel that’s okay but at least make an attempt to understand what they are saying.

Disagreements should be lessons and we should learn from them and move forward. Avoiding them is just another form of procrastination. Like anything else they won’t go away they’ll just be put off for tomorrow. Hopefully if nothing else they will serve as another lesson on how to or how not to communicate successfully in the future.

Respect for house and home seems minimal, if that, these days.  Unfortunately people seem more concerned with their independence, their own personal accomplishments, as well as what they stand to gain from a situation.  Along with that, new marriages seem to be on the decline, divorces on the rise, and cohabitation preferred.  I guess it’s difficult for some to respect what they don’t have and for other’s to celebrate someone else’s unity when they themselves are bitter.

Respecting someone else’s house and home should be some sort of unspoken rule.  How do you disrespect a decision two people made together and how do you disrespect a child’s home more importantly?  Whether you are unhappy with your own situation or your arrogance is at an all time high there is never a good reason.  More importantly why would you want to interfere in someone else’s home or relationship?

As a woman in a committed relationship I find it hard to understand how other women can so freely interfere or knowingly involve themselves with married men.  How a person meets you is typically how they will leave you.  Interfering in a relationship with the intention of gaining a “good” man may lead to disappointment.  If the “good” man is willing to leave his wife and children for you what makes you think he won’t abandon you and yours in the future?  Is the gain really as “good” as it seems?

I tend to think the grass ain’t always greener on the other side and we should take a good look inside our own homes before we take the easy road out and jump ship for some pipe dream sold over a revealing blouse and a bottle of wine or some empty promises.  On a personal note I’d prefer to begin a relationship on the note that the man wanted me and me alone and not that I “stole” something or won some sort of contest.  How much respect are you really showing yourselves let alone a person’s house and home?

Anyone who has a family knows it’s next to impossible to truly have a lot of privacy. Privacy is one of those things you usually end up giving up without really realizing it only to find the I’s were changed to we’s, our’s, and us. Usually your room is shared with someone else, your bathroom time, dinner time, and of course half of your once personal belongings.

Some people make this transition easily. They are more than happy to share their life and all of them with another person. Other people find it difficult to accept and are constantly looking for alone time or activities to do alone or with friends.

Recently there has been a lot of talk about social networking sites, cell phones, and passwords. Should couples share passwords? Should they share profiles? Or should they each just respect the other person’s privacy?

In a sense privacy is a good thing. If you can have one thing to yourself more power to you but when a person becomes secretive and logs out or flips their cell upside down when another person approaches it makes you wonder if they’re up to something.

That really is when the trouble begins. I think each person is entitled some privacy, I think it’s healthy to have some personal space, and I also think it’s more than appropriate to have your own profile if you choose to partake in social networking sites. What I think is inappropriate is being overly secretive or using your profile to have inappropriate conversations with other people. I also find people are more trusting and less likely to try and snoop if they have access to something.

When two people make the conscious decision to share their lives together they have to be willing to compromise and give up the I’s for we’s. They should be respectful if the other person needs some alone time or feels claustrophobic and needs some privacy. There is certainly nothing wrong with feeling overwhelmed, especially in my house where we’re practically tripping over each other.

In any relationship and in any situation you just have to be willing to communicate your needs. Before you make the decision to become a couple you have to know what you’re willing to accept and what you’re not. If you can’t figure it out before the kids come you’ll never figure it out later. You have to know what a reasonable amount of privacy to expect is and what’s not. Respect one another but in the process be sure you’re respecting yourself.

Obsession can be defined as an uncontrollable emotion or behavior. When a person has an obsession they often can not rationalize as well as the people looking in from the outside and no matter how many facts you put in their face you may not be able to get them to even consider your view. Once a person has become obsessed they eat, breathe, and dream about their obsession. It often consumes their lives, both personal and professional, and their judgement can become very cloudy. Obsession is without a doubt very dangerous and can be scary for everyone involved.

Personally I don’t like to intervene in another person’s personal life unless they’ve asked to speak to me about it. Even then I keep my responses objective and I offer advice that will allow them to understand things for themselves and allow them to make their own decisions. In the past when I’ve witnessed a person that appears to be obsessed with another thing or person it has been difficult for me to sit back and watch them. It is especially difficult when the person they’re obsessed with is telling them to go “kick rocks” and they are still unwilling to back off. Witnessing a situation like this is very sad because it often doesn’t end without injury or until the person crashes.

When you’re trying to get someone to see how you feel it can be very frustrating but the truth is that a person’s perception is their reality and until they choose to see things differently they won’t. This goes in line with the saying you can not change someone else. They have to make a conscious decision to want to change and change themselves. Unfortunately there isn’t much you can do to control situations like these. If you are facing a “stalker” or obsessed ex or admirer the only thing you can do is control your own actions, be honest and open with your new partner or family if it applies, and protect yourself. You can never allow an outside force to influence your current relationship or situation. If you’re friends with the person who has the obsession make sure you’re there to catch them if they fall. Offer them help if they ask for it and certainly gauge the strength of your relationship with them. If you find it appropriate to intervene and protect them from themselves by all means do so but of course remember to be very cautious when doing it!