How to Keep the Music Playing

If you both feel that love and respect are still intact, then, fret not! It is just a matter of falling in lust again with your partner; getting your partnership back in track; and rekindling your connection. (Unsplash photo)

You and your partner or spouse have been in a long-term relationship. Somehow, along the years, the fizz has fizzled. Here’s the universal truth: all relationships reach a tipping point of losing that giddiness experience. It may be down to spending too much time apart and neglecting each other. Life changes are also a main factor why you both lost that spark. Suddenly, you find yourselves asking the same questions from James Ingram’s and Patti Austin’s song: “How do you keep the music playing?”, or “how do you keep the song from fading too fast?”, and  “how do you not run out of new things to say?” I totally “heart” this song!

If you both feel that love and respect are still intact, then, fret not! It is just a matter of falling in lust again with your partner; getting your partnership back in track; and rekindling your connection. There’s always a solution to everything in life. Let’s be creative and find ways by using the 26 alphabet letters on how to keep the music playing in our relationships:

A — Acceptance and Appreciation. Acceptance helps keep your relationship healthy. It makes it easier to treasure the good things about your partner leading you towards deeper intimacy and care for each other. Appreciation for each other is a key component in relationships. When you appreciate each other, you both feel good about what you do, and that makes a difference to your lives and strengthens your partnership.

B — Believing in each other. When you believe in each other, you view your relationship as a place of comfort. This enhances your relations and makes it a happy one!

C — Cuddle and Canoodle. These two go hand in hand in terms of releasing oxytocin, which is a bonding hormone that helps couples feel closer, more loving, and affectionate towards each other.

D — Date Nights. Dress up and go on date nights at least once or twice a week. Date nights build resilience to carry your relationship during challenging times. It also reminds couples why they first fell in love and reignites passion.

E — Evolve together. Couples must be able to consciously commit to grow together as partners through many life changes. Remember that any changes you go through as a couple can simply be a crossroads moment in your relationship calling for a better way of relating together. Grow together through ups, downs, successes, and adversities.

F — Fornicate and be creative with it. Do lots of role-playing and dress in sexy costumes! Explore new positions outside your usual positions — if you both agree to it. Have phone sex. Touch each other constantly throughout the day. Do some sextings frequently. Be more adventurous — sex can take place outside the confines of your bedroom.

G — Good grooming and hygiene. I cannot stress enough how important this is! Shave. Shower. Smell delicious. Look delicious. Stay in shape! Get your Brazilian done! Go to your hygienist to have your teeth cleaned every three months!

H — Honesty in partnership. When you can be totally honest with each other, there’s no cause for doubts or worries. It builds internal security that makes you both feel safe and happy together.

I — Independence in relationship. Never lose your real self. It’s essential that you live your own life and continue to pursue your goals while in a relationship. It’s essential to have your own sense of autonomy while feeling you can depend on each other.

J — Joke with each other. Sense of humour can be the best thing in your relationship. LOL-ing together creates a stronger bond, overcomes the stresses you both face together, and increases happiness in your shared lives.

K — Kissing and lots of it! Did you know that kissing your partner can help you lose weight? When you kiss, it spikes the dopamine, which in turn helps you lose your appetite! Besides, how could you say no to a French kiss? Butterfly kiss? Eskimo kiss? Single lip kiss? Earlobe kiss? Lizard kiss? And yes, the famous Spider-Man kiss? Yummylicious!

L — Learn your Love Languages. Couples must learn and know their love languages. It serves as a solid framework for better communication and ways of expressing your love for each other. When you know each other’s love languages, you are both able to love and recognize each other better. The five love languages are: Quality Time, Acts of Services, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, and Receiving Gifts.

M — Money matters. A solid partnership involves a lot of future planning: buying a home, a car, your children’s university education, vacations, retirement plans, and the list goes on. Money is crucial because where you spend it is going to dictate how you live, and how you achieve your goals together. Couples should play equal roles when it comes to finances. Money matters and how you handle your finances as a couple could either make or break your relationship.

N — Nurture each other. When you nurture each other, you care deeply for each other and help each other grow. It creates a mutually beneficial connection.

O — Openness with each other. When couples openly reveal their past, their present pursuits, and future plans, it fosters deeper connection and intimacy. By being open with each other, you are both able to take each other’s feelings into account.

P — Passion! Passion! Passion! Indulge in long, lingering kisses. Have fun with playful foreplays. Have intense sex with each other. Embrace in public. Kiss each other in public.

Q — Quality Time with each other. When couples make quality time for each other, they are focused on each other and on improving their relationship. They take time to communicate with each other and be affectionate towards each other. They take the time to connect with each other.

R — Respect for each other. When you accept your partner for who they are, regardless of how different they are from you — it builds stronger connection, safety, and well-being.

S — Surprise each other more often. Leave sexy notes on the fridge. Buy him a sexy underwear. Pick him up at the office wearing nothing underneath your trench coat. Give each other long, sensuous massages on the spur of the moment.

T — Trust is golden. It is the key foundation in all relationships. Trusting each other means you can rely and depend on each other. You can confide and feel safe with each other.

U — Understanding. The willingness to understand each other is a salient feature in a romantic relationship. Understanding each other allows both of you to be free to be the individuals you both want to be without judgment. It allows both of you to see each other from each other’s perspectives.

V — Value each other. When couples value each other, it means they acknowledge each other as individuals. They hold in high regard each other’s contributions to the relationship. They think highly of each other’s mind and soul which allows them to see and accept what each other brings to the table.

W — Work on your partnership together. Teamwork is critical to the success of your relationship. The more you help each other in improving your relationship, the stronger your bond will become. Working together to address your issues solidifies and enriches your partnership.

X — Xoompin your relationship. Xoompin means to drive over bumps on the road — that’s how a strong and healthy connection should be. As a couple, you should both drive over any bumps in your relationship. You are both in control. Plus, you should both take turns on who gets to seat on the driver’s seat!

Y — Yearn for each other. Yearning feeds physical intimacy which in turn feeds connection, nurturance, and the protective guard around relationships. Intimate relationships in which desire has faded can take on the shape of housemates or colleagues. You don’t want that! It’s like being friend-zoned. Ouch.

Z — Zest up your relationship. Be more adventurous as a couple. Blindfold each other and just enjoy touching each other. Go camping over the weekend even if it’s just at your backyard! Go diving together. Make love in the car. Go skinny dipping together. Go for a picnic on top of a mountain overlooking a lake.

If and when we do follow the above ways to keep the music playing in our relationships, then perhaps, just like the lyrics in the song — eventually, we will find that with any luck than we suppose — the music will never end. Don’t ever lose hope. Together, you can both last till the end. For starters, always remember your vows to each other. Love never fails, it always wins!