by Nicole Flavell

Created on: May 02, 2008

HOW TO KEEP A LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP FRESH AND FUN.

The 7 year-itch, I 7-anno-itch, Los 7-ano-pique. No matter what language you say it in; it is still a thought that runs through every couple's minds at least once. Have no fear it can be beat. By taking some simple steps and following some easy suggestions you can scratch the "itch" and move on to happier times.

The first thing you have to learn is to be open. Open to new ideas, thoughts and experiences. Once you open your mind it will be easier to take the leap into the unknown. Scary? Maybe. Exciting? Definitely. A good way to keep your relationship fun is to try new things. Do something unexpected. The key is spontaneity. Though is can be hard to be spontaneous when you both have busy schedules, it is possible. Start with something small like Date Night. You don't have to go all out and spend a lot of money to have fun on a date. Remember back to when you two first got together. What made the night special? I bet it wasn't the cost but the feeling you had just being around them. Some other great tips for those with busy schedules include sending flirty text messages to him while he is at work. Imagine the look on his face when he reads it! Buy him a gift for no reason at all, Write him a love letter and put it in his briefcase before he leaves for work. Another great way to have some fun is to plan a mini vacation in your own city. It could be a day trip or a weekend getaway. Chances are you will learn something new about your city and each other. There are many ways to keep it fresh and fun when you don't have much time together.

Be up front about your wants, needs, desires, likes and dislikes. Be honest about what you want. Be reasonable in your expectations. You can not expect him to change 100% just to make you happy. A healthy relationship is based on communication and the willingness to accept each other for who they are. You don't go into a relationship trying to change someone. Communication, affection,acceptance, respect and love are important ingredients in a happy marriage. Without them, you might as well be strangers.

Here is a list of some ideas that have worked for many couples who were seeking something new:

Take a salsa class together
There is nothing more romantic than dancing so seductively with the one you love
Rent some surfboards at the beach
Summertime is a great time to get out there and see what you can do. Surfing not only gets your adrenaline pumping, it is a great workout as well
Take

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