Dear Romantic Trainee, 

If I offered to trade you my brand new car for your old one, would you accept my trade?

New cars are wonderful. The paint on is so pure you can comb your hair in the reflection. The tires are black, without scuff marks. The windshield seems invisible. And there’s that unmistakable new car smell.

You drive extra cautiously, park it in the garage, and clean it frequently.

You’re driving down the road and:

• You hear an noise and wonder if there’s a problem.
• You squirm, trying to get the seat to conform to your body.
• You adjust & re-adjust mirrors, search for your radio stations and try to figure out what buttons do what and how to operate them.

When the odometer hits 20,000 miles.

• The seat’s finally “adjusted”.
• You’re not paranoid about the car getting scratched – it’s already scratched.
• The interior has character from a spilled drink.
• The radio’s favorite buttons are preset to your stations.

You’re finally as comfortable with your “new” car as you were with the one you traded to me.

We’ve seen people do this with relationships. They want a “newer model” and discover too late it’s not as comfortable as their “old model”.

There’s a comfort level you have in your relationship. It’s come from years of adjusting to each other, knowing each other’s bumps & dents, learning to work together.

Maybe you’ve eyed a “newer model” and wondered if you should make a trade.

I’d suggest keep your “current model” and spiff up the relationship with romance. You’ll end up with the best of both worlds: a comfortable relationship with your “current model” and a rebuilt “romantic” engine. That’s a better deal

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This week's Romantic Interlude:  

If you’ve run out of romantic ideas, let your sweetheart help you.

Give your sweetheart the following note.

“I’d like to learn more about you. This evening I’ll share with you the most romantic date I’ve ever had. I ask you to share the same with me.

If the date was not with me, that’s OK. I most interested in learning what made it so romantic.

Looking forward to tonight with you.”

Take notes.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Helping you make good relationships great,