Relationships are hard. They require give and take. At the end of the day, being in a relationship means making yourself and your partner feel love and happiness. However, love comes in many forms.
This is where love languages come in. A love language, coined by author and relationship counsellor Gary Chapman, is a way in which someone expresses their love and appreciation towards themselves and others.
In his book, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, Chapman explains that each person has a primary love language, but can express love in many of them. It can depend on our personality types, and we can also learn our love languages from experiences.
“My conclusion after thirty years of marriage counselling is that there are basically five emotional love languages—five ways that people speak and understand emotional love,” Chapman explains in this book. “The important thing is to speak the love language of your spouse.”
While Chapman focuses on romantic love, this concept also refers to familial and friendship love.
The five core love languages are:
– Words of affirmation – using words to encourage, appreciate and express love. For example, “You look incredible today”, or “Thank you for cooking dinner tonight, it was great.”
– Gifts – physical gift-giving and tokens of appreciation. Examples include buying someone flowers or leaving love notes for them to read.
– Acts of Service – providing an act of kindness for someone that you know they would appreciate. Examples include making them a cup of coffee or cooking a meal.
– Quality time – spending time with your spouse, even if it’s not doing anything specific. This includes taking them out on dates, or having a heart-to-heart talk.
– Physical touch – hand holding, kissing, hugs and all other forms of physical touch.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4b9GAdgqvj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Decades after the book was published, Chapman’s words still ring true. Many relationship experts today argue that the building blocks of a healthy relationship lie in understanding your partner’s love language.
Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK, relationship counsellor Gurpreet Singh said that, “There are two people in the relationship, their expectations are different, their needs are different, their way of communication is different. Everything about them is different. There are similarities of course, but opposites attract quite a lot. When you’re attracted to someone that’s different to you, it is almost necessary you will run into things about the person that grate on you.”
Your partner’s love language signals how they see love and how they would like to receive it. Once you know how you partner wants to be loved, you can start incorporating those actions into your daily life.
To identify your partner’s love language, you should take note of the small things they do. You can also simply ask them what makes them feel loved and cherished.
When you can identify and understand your partner’s love language, you can begin to see the ways they represent their love everyday. Their actions, which might have meant little to you before, now become significant. For example, your partner’s love language may be physical touch and they are therefore incredibly affectionate towards you, something you might have once thought of as a sign of insecurity. When you can identify that their physical affection is their main sign of love, you can begin to appreciate those small moments for what they are. You can also be a bit more physical with your affection to show that you acknowledge how they want to be loved. Of course, your partner should do the same.
Another important thing not to forget is to practice self-love. When you can love yourself and identify the ways in which you show love, you are in a much greater position to love others.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ecgE6Hx3S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Image: Unsplash
One thrifty bride-to-be took all her would-be wedding guests for a ride. Apparently, she and her husband opted for a crowd-funded wedding, then cancelled the wedding after receiving…
After all the stress that comes with planning a wedding, it’s no doubt that you’ll welcome your honeymoon with open arms. Just you and your partner against a backdrop of romance, quality time and breathtaking scenery in foreign places. To make things easy and to ensure that you minimise any unnecessary stress from here on out, we’ve listed some useful tips to help you pack the perfect honeymoon suitcase.
Create a packing list:
To maximise on space and save time when selecting outfits, you want to consider a few things when creating a packing list. These factors will ensure that you don’t end up taking unnecessary items that you won’t end up using. Consider the:
- Destination
- Weather
- Itinerary
- Comfortability
- Practicality
What to pack:
After carefully taking into considering what the climate will be like at your honeymoon destination and everything you have set out on your itinerary, don’t forget about these basics:
- Versatile clothing items. These are items that can be worn to any occasion and are comfortable, practical and stylish, like a comfortable pair of pants that can be dressed up or down.
- Try and stick to packing in wrinkle-resistant microfibers and fabrics that don’t require extra care.
- Pack in travel-sized essentials like shampoo, toothpaste and skincare, but also share products with your S.O. where possible.
- All important documents should be kept separate from your check-in luggage, so that you don’t end up looking for them at customs.
How to pack:
Minimising your luggage weight can prove to be a huge benefit. Not only will you be able to move around more freely with less luggage, but you can accommodate space for those souvenirs you couldn’t resist buying.
- Layer the bottom of the suitcase with your shoes.
- On top of the shoes, pack in all folded items. Rolling outfits into tight rolls can create a ton of extra space because you can insert clothing into every nook and cranny in your suitcase.
- For clothing that wrinkles easily, it may be best to fold instead of roll, and then place on top of everything else.
- Once all your smaller items have been packed, you can now pack the bulkier clothing right on top.
- Another option would be to purchase suitcase dividers – this may take up a bit more space but will ensure that your suitcase is more organised, making things easier to find.
What to avoid:
- Refrain from packing in items you’ve never worn before – chances are they’ll never leave the suitcase either.
- Don’t pack in multiple items of the same kind. One pair of comfortable sneakers is enough!
- Don’t overthink your clothing choices – you’ll end up with your entire closet in your suitcase.
By Aadilah Hallam
Feature image: Unsplash
Everyone loves a man in a suit. Grooms have been relying on the old faithful, a classic black tux, for decades. However, today’s groom is one that is…
Who doesn’t love an island getaway? The sea, the sand and a delicious beverage is sometimes all you need to relax and unwind. An island-based honeymoon is especially perfect after the stress of planning a wedding.
If you’re a beach lover, island hopping is an excellent honeymoon option. Rather than settling in one place, island hopping allows you to experience many different locations in one trip. You’ll definitely want to check out these destinations to live out your island fantasy.
Greece:
Live your Mamma Mia life to the fullest in Greece. With 6000 islands to choose from within the Greek archipelego, you’ll definitely need to do your research.
There are a number of Greek Island groups, including: the Ionian islands, the Argo-saronic Islands, the Cyclades, Crete, and the Dodocanese Islands. Within each grouping there are a multitude of islands to sail between.
Some of the most romantic islands are Santorini, Milos, and Hydra.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4U_SiVp1UB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Croatia:
Besides offering beautiful old-town culture, Croatia is home to over 1000 islands and close to 6,000 kilometres of coastline fronting the Adriatic sea. Honeymooners can simply hop on a boat to explore the country via water.
A must see is Hvar, one of the country’s most popular islands. It reminds one of a beautiful seaside village, with much to see and do. The city of Dubrovnik’s beaches are a sparkling blue. When there, make sure to take a ferry to Locrum island for a private day in the sun.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4TfhdABCNE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Fiji:
Fiji has over 330 breathtaking islands for you to experience. The Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands are the most popular, and honeymooners can easily purchase a Bula pass to hop between them.
Viti Levu is the largest island, and offers sea and city life. Savusavu is just a few hours away, and offers quiet contemplation and relaxation. Lose track of time while admiring the little shops in the quaint city centre.
For a private island experience, take a trip to Savasi Island. The island is made up of lava rock, and honeymooners can enjoy an array of activities such as hiking, kayaking and snorkeling.
https://www.instagram.com/p/By4IURbBlIf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Thailand:
Thailand has quickly become a popular honeymoon destination for its affordability and beautiful beaches. Take your pick from its over 1000 islands. Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lipe are the most popular destinations.
Honeymooners often favour Koh Yao Noi for its idyllic setting and stunning scenery. Most accommodation on this island is quite luxurious. Scuba divers will love the Similan Islands, where you can visit Richelieu Rock and Elephant Head Rock.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2fzZY8Bw9k/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Philippines:
The Philippine archipelago comprises of over 7000 islands clustered into the three major groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Palawan, the largest island in the Phillipines, has been voted best island in the world for many years, and we can see why. With jungles, mountains and white beaches, honeymooners will love the variety of experiences from just this one island. The Twin Lagoons in Coron, Palawan are incredibly popular with tourists for its towering cliffs and crystal clear water.
For something more remote, Palaui Island is perfect for nature lovers wanting a break from fast-paced city life. Hike through the vibrant green rice fields one day, explore caves and waterfalls the next.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aEdKBDY5E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The Bahamas:
With over 700 islands, The Bahamas is an ecological paradise boasting some of the clearest water on the planet.
The country’s capital, Nassau, is the perfect mix of city and island life. From here, take a trip to Paradise Island. The Abacos island is popular with tourists for its swimming pigs attraction. While here, enjoy one of the four national parks on the island. Andros is the largest island in The Bahamas, and is home to the second largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere. Divers will particularly enjoy this island.
Honeymooners will love Harbour Island’s rose tinted sand and its peaceful atmosphere.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnNcmwZBaP0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Image: Unsplash
You know how it goes: Photos or it didn’t happen. Recently, it has almost become a competition, with some couples going to extreme lengths to do certain poses…
Congratulations, you’re engaged! Now it’s time to announce it to the world. While the majority of engagement photos show off the engagement ring, it is not obligatory and you should not feel that you have to include a picture of your ring when you announce.
Here are 10 beautiful engagement photos that don’t focus on your engagement ring:
Hold on tight
View this post on Instagram
Have fun
View this post on Instagram
Through the trees
View this post on Instagram
Embrace your inner nerd
View this post on Instagram
Show that your love is the bomb
View this post on Instagram
Do a dance
View this post on Instagram
Include your pet
View this post on Instagram
Be extra
Bird’s eye view
View this post on Instagram
Submerge yourself
View this post on Instagram
Feature image: