I would be the first to say that technology is terrific! However it has its pros and cons. If you are not careful it can create distance between committed couples. That being said, there are times when you can appreciate life and your spouse more without the use of technology. Our challenge to you? Spend a day unplugged “with” the one you love.
Turn off your phone(s) – Cell phone and land line (if you still have one). While your phone can keep you connected across the miles, it can also constantly distract you from the moment you’re living in. Make a pact to turn off your phones on Friday evening and don’t look at them again until Sunday morning. You’ll be amazed at how much more time you have with your sweetheart and how much more you will actually listen to what they have to say when you’re not being interrupted by various calls and texts.
Turn your computer off for the weekend. Don’t even check your e-mail. Stay off Facebook and Twitter. (Bet you’ll suffer withdrawal!) 
I know. It’s hard… but you can do it.
Leave the iPod and iPad at home – We all love music and entertainment, but spending time solely focused on each other can do nothing but boost your relationship. Plan a picnic under a tree in the park. You can take a walk and listen to each other and the sounds of nature around you. The result? You will feel more connected to each other and more at peace in your world.
Lose the TV remote – Picture this: sitting on the couch with your sweetie and not watching television. Without the distraction of reality television or ESPN you can spend time together the old fashioned way… talking, playing a game or planning something fun to do over the weekend. Often couples who have conflicting work schedules find it difficult to schedule time to be together. You may find out that your partner is a lot more interesting than the re-run you would’ve watched and that you share one more thing in common (like being terrible at Scrabble). Put your DVR to good use. Watch your favorite show at a later day.
I had a coaching session with a couple recently who decided to spend the weekend working together to do the chores around the house that that both had been putting off for months, but to do them together. They then rewarded themselves with a fabulous meal at their favorite restaurant and a night out on the town. The following weekend they enjoyed some great music together at a music festival with their friends.
I guess the point is, if you really love each other, I’m thinking that it’s a great idea to make some special plans to spend some “quality” time with each other. “Who’s got time for that?” you say. You must “make time” to do fun things together. It keeps things interesting. Whatever it is that makes you and your partner happy, stop putting it off, and make plans to do it this week. Never let electronics get in your way of being together. Take the unplugged challenge and you may discover what you’ve been missing.
Larry’s Note: A special “Thank you” to the great people at MissNowMrs.com for their contribution to this article.
BONUS Article: Put the “Fun” in Relationship Fundamentals!
Copyright © 2012 – Larry James. This idea is adapted from Larry’s books, “How to Really Love the One You’re With: Affirmative Guidelines for a Healthy Love Relationship,” “LoveNotes for Lovers: Words That Make Music for Two Hearts Dancing” and “Red Hot LoveNotes for Lovers.” Larry James is a professional speaker, author, relationship coach and an award winning nondenominational Wedding Officiant. He performs the most “Romantic” wedding ceremony you will find anywhere. Something NEW about relationships is posted every 4th day on this Relationships BLOG.
Subscribe to Larry’s FREE monthly “LoveNotes for Lovers” eZINE. Contact: CelebrateLove.com, P.O. Box 12695, Scottsdale, AZ 85267-2695. – CelebrateLove.com and CelebrateIntimateWeddings.com
NOTE: All articles and “LoveNotes” listed in this BLOG – written by Larry James – are available for reprint in magazines, periodicals, newsletters, newspapers, eZINEs, on the Internet or on your own Website. Click here for details.
Add Larry James as a “friend” to your Facebook page: http://www.Facebook.com/larry.james
Follow Larry’s “once daily” Relationship Tweet at: http://www.Twitter.com/larryjames
Follow Larry’s “Wedding BLOG” at: http://CelebrateIntimateWeddings.wordpress.com
Follow Larry’s “Networking BLOG” at: http://NetworkingHQ.wordpress.com
Copyright © 2012 – Ernie Fitzpatrick. Ernie Fitzpatrick founded LRC September 6, 1987. What began as a church called Liberty Revival Church has morphed into a spiritual community now called Life Revealing Community. LRC is primarily a spiritual community of men and women dedicated to advancing their spiritual walk while assisting the Visual & Performing Art high school students: providing them with incentives and scholarships, as well as emotional support. Ernie is a graduate from Washburn University (Topeka, Kansas) in 1966 with additional graduate work at Kansas University. Ernie has primarily been a real estate and business entrepreneur. He served as CEO of Century 21 of Texas, Inc. developed his own national builder franchise (Todany’s American Builder), and was COO of RE/MAX of Texas. Visit Ernie’s 
A – And they lived happily ever after. I accept you for who you are.
L – Love you now and forever! 
She was innovative. She taught a kids class in my father’s church in Owingsville, Kentucky. She would cut out pictures from magazines, paste flannel on the back of the photos and stick them to a “flannel board” to illustrate while she told the children a Bible story. We didn’t have Velcro back then.
The Internet is the new frontier of infidelity, and apparently it’s a confusing place because men and women don’t agree on what constitutes cyber straying. The line between being a cheat and just being cheeky has been blurred by the release of a new book, which claims that emotional infidelity is just as destructive to a relationship as physical cheating. 
To me, the best way to deal with suspicions of infidelity – online or off – is to talk with your partner about it. If you don’t have communication in your relationship – the ability to approach each other openly, honestly, and safely then talk about concerns and issues like these – then you probably don’t have much of a foundation for a “healthy” relationship to begin with. If your partner is cyber-cheating, there’s obviously a problem with the marriage or relationship. I suggest that you get help.
So. . . we drift. Back and forth. Love. Fear. Love. Fear.
We know there must be more than this! We begin to self-inquire and often are confronted by our own stuff; the stuff that isn’t working, and somehow it seems we are powerless to choose another course of action.
Men often use “midlife crisis” as an excuse for any embarrassing, highly questionable activity. This might include body piercings, bad toupees, love-handle surgery, leather pants and the purchase of a sports car more expensive than their first house.
What is refreshing, healing and empowering is this present moment. What we do in it either moves us in the direction of our calling or away from it. This is it! Reach out for “right now!” Touch this moment!
Walking away does not necessarily mean you will be able to stop loving that person because if you really love someone from your heart and soul you will never stop loving that person. Love is so much bigger than all of us because it’s the very fabric by which we are made of. And when you love someone what you are basically doing is getting in touch with what you are made of. Trying to stop love is like trying to get out of your own skin — good luck with that!
Many more aren’t willing to work as hard to make a relationship work as they work hard in their professions or careers. These same people start pushing premature commitment because of their own internal pressures and are quick to conclude it isn’t working and walk away.
• someone who doesn’t automatically assume that it’s all a selfish act but understands and appreciates where the fear and anxieties are coming from (fear of losing one’s independence, fear of marriage, fear of intimacy, fear of having kids, fear of financial burdens, fear of sharing a home, fear of offending family members, fear of moving to another state or country etc). Understanding and appreciation can help the two of you come to a compromise you can both live with.
The best conversationalists listen to the other person and expand on what they have heard with questions, other related topics, and even jokes. These guys listen and then expand on the conversation, rather then being stuck in their head thinking what to say next. Women enjoy talking to someone who is actually listening to them.
