Ah Spring! For many it means days of warm sunshine, blooming flowers and moderate temperatures.

It also means it's time to shake off Winter, grab your partner, and get out of the house! 

Spring provides a great opportunity for you and your partner to enjoy fun, exciting and romantic dates in the Great Outdoors!  The following are five great ideas to help you brainstorm:

• Visit your local parks   Spring is a great time to take your special someone to see nature at its gorgeous best.  Drink in stunning natural vistas. Observe wildlife. Admire the flora, etc.  Plus, many parks offer various trails for walking, jogging, biking, etc.  Or, if there is a swing set available, sit and enjoy!
•  Visit a botanical garden  This idea is an extension of the first. However, botantical gardens offer a wider variety of exotic flowers, trees and plants you may not experience elsewhere. In addition, many botanical gardens offer other outdoor activities such as art exhibits, brunches and open air concerts. These events provide an ideal setting for a romantic date.
• Attend Open Houses  Close friends of mine introduced me to this idea.  Plan to attend open houses in your local area. Specifically look for those being held in historic neighborhoods, or those renown for their architectural style.  This is not only a great way to leisurely spend an afternoon, but you can also learn interesting information about your community.
• Go to a sporting event  If you are both sports fans, attend an open air event. For example, minor or major league baseball games can make for an exciting and fun afternoon.  Check with your local sporting venues for events and scheduling information.
• Watch the stars   On a clear, warm night go outside to star gaze. If you have a back yard, grab a blanket and lay under the stars.  

Hopefully these five tips will give you inspiration to grab your loved one and enjoy all that Spring has to offer! By the way, do you have any other Spring date ideas?  Please share them by commenting below!

Jealousy, also known as the "green-eyed monster," has been the bane of many relationships. Most of us have experienced twinges of jealousy to varying degrees in our life.

However, there are those whose feelings of jealousy are often taken to the irrational extreme, and it is often detrimental to their relationships.

Personally, I cringe everytime I hear someone say something to the effect of "Oh, I wanted to make my partner jealous, so he/she will appreciate me." 

What they don't realize is that jealousy can open a Pandora's Box of misery and pain.

Okay, jealousy can be very bad. Check.   But what causes it?

From my experience chronic jealousy has two root causes:

1. Deep-rooted feelings of insecurity.  Your partner has done nothing to instigate your jealousy, but you just don't  completely trust them.  Possessiveness and anxiety are your constant companions who continually whisper doubts in your ear.   -or -
2. The  acutal behaviors of the other partner.  An example of this would be your partner openly flirting with others in your presence.  These types of behaviors make you uncomfortable.

In order to deal with the first cause of jealousy, you must be willing to do some deep soul searching. If you are a jealous person by nature, what are the root reasons for your feelings of insecurity? 

If necessary, professional counseling is a very effective way of helping you identify and work through the issues you may confront.  If you don't face your issues, you run the risk of damaging your relationship as well as hampering future ones.

On the other hand, if your partner is acutally behaving in ways that are making you jealous, it's time to sit down with them and have a talk.  Discuss with them what specific behaviors are making you feel uncomfortable.  Then have a conversation regarding what boundaries need to be established. Author Cucan Pemo has written a great book that also covers this topic.

The bottom line is, don't let youself or your relationship become another victim of the green-eyed monster. Instead resolve to do something about it, today.

What are your feelings about the impact jealousy can have on relationships? Please comment below and share  your thoughts with us!

It happens to most of us.  You have a solid, stable relatonship. You and your partner love each other.  You complement each other well.

Then you wake up one day and realize the passion in your relationship seems to have dimmed. 

You both still care for each other very deeply, but what was once very exciting, even electric about your bond (conversations, sex, etc.) has become, well, routine.

Don't worry!  This occurs with most couples who have been together for an extended  period of time.  The good news?  You can begin to re-ignite your passion for one another with these two magic words:  thank you!

Now, I realize that there are countless sites that offer numerous tips on how to put the excitement back in your relationship, and most are valid.  Even I have written about relationship ruts.

However, an often overlooked root cause for the boredom we experience with our partners stems from the fact that, over time, we tend to start taking each other for granted.

Okay, to prove my point, take my challenge: make it a point to notice all of the things that your partner does for you, no matter how large or small. 

Then, when he/she least expects it, express your heartfelt gratitude. Do this frequently.  After about a week or so, my bet is you may be surprised at how your partner responds! 

Please, don't underestimate the power of gratitude. Remember, we all long to feel appreciated, especially by those we care about. 

When you sow seeds of gratitude in your relationship, you will reap many benefits, including the passion you both deserve.

What exactly makes a relationship successful?  What is the key to a healthy, happy union?

Almost every one of us have asked ourselves those very questions at some point in our lives.   I truly do not believe that the majority of people enter into a serious relationship thinking it will fail.

So, why are so many of us unhappy in our relationships?  Why is the divorce rate in America as high as it is? Why do so many couples fall so madly in love, then just as quickly fall out of it?

Of course there are no simple answers to these questions, although Lord knows I wish there were.  However, when I think of the couples I know who appear truly happy and content, there seems to be some common traits their relationships exhibit.

These traits, though not a guarantee for happiness, most definitely need to be present in any relationship in order for it to have the best chance of success.  

These traits make up the acronym T.R.U.S.T. and they are:

• T for Truth. Couples who are consistently honest with each other regarding what their goals and expectations are for their relationship tend to be more secure with each other. This security comes from the knowledge that they both know where each other stands. An excellent resource for learning how to start a meaningful dialogue with your partner is 1000 Questions For Couples.
• R for Respect.  Simply put, each partner must show due regard for the other's feelings, dreams, goals, ambitions, beliefs and hopes.
• U for Understanding. When we first fall in love, we tend to place our partners on pedestals. However, we must remember that they are human beings with faults, flaws and foibles just like everyone else.
• S for Support.  Being in love is a breeze when times are good. Unfortunately, life isn't always sunny and bright. Our partners need our support the most when life throws us those curve balls. Couples who stand together when times are tough usually go the distance.
• T for Thanks.  Couples who show their appreciation for each other tend to have incredibly strong bonds. Makes sense doesn't it?  However, many of us begin to take our partners for granted over time. Don't allow yourself to fall into this pattern. Let your partner know often how much you appreciate them.

Finally, make a commitment today to incorporate more T.R.U.S.T. into your relationships.  My guess is you may be surprised at the positive changes in your union you will witness as a result.

What other qualities do you think comprise a strong and healthy relationship? Please share your feelings by commenting below!

Very few things in this life feel worse than discovering that your partner has been unfaithful to you. That is why cheating is an evergreen "go-to" topic for countless talk shows, books, videos, songs, etc.

Due to the recent Tiger Woods scandal and the disintegration of the marriage of Elizabeth Edwards, infidelity has once again been in the forefront of the nation's zeitgeist.

Consequently,  countless relationship experts argue that infidelity does not have to mean the end of the relationship. These experts assert that cheating is a symptom of other underlying issues.

I disagree. To be completely honest, cheating would be a relationship deal breaker for me. 

While I understand people cheat for many different reasons,  my opinion is that the act of being unfaithful in and of itself  is a major isssue.  Why?  When a partner cheats on you, your trust in that person is almost always irrevocably broken.

In my mind, if you can no longer trust your partner, what is the point of continuing the relationship? Even if your partner is truly sorry and remorseful, the question remains: can you ever truly completely trust him/her again?

Yes, I do recognize that many couples stay together despite infidelity.  However, staying together doesn't necessarily mean the relationship is happy or healthy.

For example, if your partner has to work late or go out of town for business, would doubt still linger in the back of your mind as to what they are actually doing? 

So, what are your feelings about cheating in a realtionship?  Would it be a deal breaker for you?  Do you think  a relationship can be salvaged and trust re-built after a partner has been unfaithful? 

Please, share your thoughts by commenting below.