Black Love – 5 Creative Ways to Keep the Romance Alive
Share
- Go on a scavenger hunt
This romantic idea is a fun twist on a road trip. Map out all the places that are significant to your relationship, including favorite restaurants, places you love to walk, or locations of good memories. You can design it as a scavenger hunt with the final location being somewhere new to both of you. By the end of the day, you’ll both be reminded of the history that’s made your relationship strong - Book a one-night staycation.
Maybe leaving your city isn’t realistic with your kids, at least right now, and that’s totally understandable. One way we have tried to get some extended alone time is by having one of our siblings stay with our son overnight so we can do a one-night staycation somewhere in the city. I always turn to Hotel Tonight for affordable, last minute deals. And then depending on where we are at the moment, I’ll either book a reservation or make no plans but simply lounging in those hotel robes, ordering room service and sleeping in! - Leave little notes.
When life is busy and there hasn’t been time to connect with your partner it can feel lonely and isolating. One way we combat these feelings when we don’t necessarily have the time that day to sit down with each other is by leaving one another handwritten notes. Leave one on your partner’s nightstand, in the book they’re reading, on the bathroom mirror, in their work bag or even just shoot them a kind text. We all just want to be seen sometimes and I think that our routines can oftentimes blur everything too much! - Plan a photoshoot
Over the years, you’ve probably taken many family photos with kids, grandkids, and a wide range of color-coordinated outfits. Try doing a photo shoot of just the two of you. Dress up in your favorite clothes, drive to your favorite spot around town or in nature, and have your photos professionally taken. Not only will this be a fun way to spend time together, but it’ll also give you romantic photographs to hang up around your home. Not to mention, during the photo shoot, you’ll be reminded of how her eyes sparkle or how his smile makes your heart skip a beat! - Explore new hobbies
Learning something new is a great way to bond and make exciting memories with your loved one. Take up golfing or attend an art class. The two of you will have something new to share while spending meaningful time with each other. This kind of experience can help shake up the routine and reignite the romance.
Know your Love Language
Words of Affirmation
People with words of affirmation as a love language value verbal acknowledgments of affection, including frequent “I love you’s,” compliments, words of appreciation, verbal encouragement, and often frequent digital communication like texting and social media engagement.
Quality Time
People whose love language is quality time feel the most adored when their partner actively wants to spend time with them and is always down to hang out. They particularly love when active listening, eye contact, and full presence are prioritized hallmarks in the relationship.
Acts of services
If your love language is acts of service, you value when your partner goes out of their way to make your life easier. It’s things like bringing you soup when you’re sick, making your coffee for you in the morning, or picking up your dry cleaning for you when you’ve had a busy day at work.
Gifts
Gifts is a pretty straightforward love language: You feel loved when people give you “visual symbols of love,” as Chapman calls it. It’s not about the monetary value but the symbolic thought behind the item. People with this style recognize and value the gift-giving process: the careful reflection, the deliberate choosing of the object to represent the relationship, and the emotional benefits from receiving the present.
Physical Touch
People with physical touch as their love language feel loved when they receive physical signs of affection, including kissing, holding hands, cuddling on the couch, and sex. Physical intimacy and touch can be incredibly affirming and serve as a powerful emotional connector for people with this love language. The roots go back to our childhood, Motamedi notes, some people only felt deep affection and love from their parents when they were held, kissed, or touched.
