Conclusion
It has been so much fun being able to teach you what we have been studying through the last couple years of our college education in family and human services. We hope that by participating in this curriculum you have found ways to strengthen your relationship with yourself, your friends, and your partner. There is so much more to learn about how to communicate well, how to become a solid, emotionally mature adult, and how to love and be loved. Keep seeking out enriching and educational sources that aid your personal and relationship growth.
Become who you want to be for yourself and your partner and Cultivate your relationship!
This recent song released by Bruno Mars is a poignant illustration of what we hope you have learned. As you desire to “risk it all” for another and have them “risk it all” for you, you hold the power and choices to create, maintain, enrich, treasure and cherish a relationship with the one you care about most. If both you and your partner are willing to show up as emotionally intelligent, willing to learn and work hard individuals, you will be able to create a loving relationship that rivals love ballads.
We hope we have been able to contribute in some way to your ability to build a strong foundation by becoming a stronger individual and cultivating a valuable relationship.
Remember to fill out the final feedback survey, linked here and on the next page, and THANK YOU for investing time into this course!
Take Action
- What goals do you have now that you have completed this course? Write down the ideas you have had and follow through.
- Which topics do you want to learn more about that we covered in all these lessons? Find some sources in our suggestions or by searching yourself. Put holds on books at the library, follow helpful podcasts and download the ones you want to listen to first. Any step you take now will help you keep your momentum in learning, growing, and becoming.
- You and your partner should each write a list of things you think would be exciting to do. Compare your lists and plan some dates with where you match up.
- Practice loving your partner with their love languages.
- If you are single, make a list of areas in your life that you want to progress in and plan some self-expansion activities that will move you forward.
Deepen Your Learning
Book: The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts -- by Gary Chapman
Book: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert— by John Gottman and Nan Silver
Date Ideas
In this lesson you learned the beneficial power that continued dating and relationship self-expanding opportunities have in enriching and maintaining a satisfying relationship. Different phases of life with a partner will make it sometimes easier and sometimes far more difficult to be consistent with dating. At the hard times remember that with a little thought and creativity you can plan dates that are low cost, done from home, or shorter, depending on needs. Add your dates to your calendar. Many couples always go out on Friday or Saturday night as a standing appointment. Make the effort no matter how busy or difficult life gets. It is worth it to take care of your relationship so that you can both face the struggles and joys of life together.
Here we will list several activities that couples have done. Remember if it is something you normally do then it will not have the relationship self-expanding effects that you want. Try new things! Some Google searches, and talking with friends will help you discover many more unique, new, or exciting date ideas.
- Attend a play or live show
- Go to a music concert (small or large venue)
- Go to a museum
- Water sports (sailing, kayaking)
- Winter sports (skiing, snowboarding)
- Spring/Summer sports (biking, tennis)
- Attend a class to learn a skill (cooking, carpentry, painting)
- Outdoor activities (walks, hikes, parks, local natural attractions)
- Picnics (away or at home)
- Take your picnic to the airport, train station, or docks and watch while you check and eat
- Be a tourist in your own town or neighboring towns
- “Penny” date- pick a number between 10-20
- Flip a penny before each intersection, heads you turn right, tails you turn left.
- Stop after you have turned the number that was picked at the beginning
- Make a date where you stop
Home or Cheap Date Ideas
- Board or card games
- Watch the sunset or sunrise
- Sightsee using a virtual museum or art gallery or by “traveling” through google maps
- Sing or dance together
- Build a fort
- Play truth or dare
- Learn relationship skills togather
- Cook together
- Stargaze
- Learn about your family trees
- Create playlists together
- Volunteer
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