the reasons for dissolving a relationship are many and varied, just as relationships themselves differ in their make‐up and dynamics. the ideal form of love in adulthood involves three components: passion, intimacy, and commitment—termed consummate love, or complete love. in fact, many middle adult couples find effective ways of improving their ability to communicate, increasing emotional intimacy, rekindling the fires of passion, and growing together. to communicate realistically is to have a satisfying and healthy relationship, regardless of the relationship’s …

at the age of 37 i was quite lonely and a man was attracted and attractive to me. however, he was just like all the rest in assuming that i would just go with him to his place for “a night-cap”,…yeah, right. now i have been more open to the idea of dating but i’m not getting any younger. i live in a city with over 3 million people and while i have been very social the last 2 or …

passion concerns the intense feelings of physiological arousal and excitement (including sexual arousal) present in a relationship, while decision/commitment concerns the decision to love the partner and maintain the relationship. intimacy concerns the sense of warmth and closeness in a loving relationship, including the desires to help the partner, to self‐disclose, and to keep the partner in one’s life. in addition to love and intimacy, sexuality is realized during young adulthood within the context of one or more relationships, whether …

this perceived need for men to hide any weakness can interfere with their ability to experience a real closeness, since real intimacy always involves some degree of vulnerability. it is a universal human need; without it we have the experience of loneliness. some men confuse intimacy with the ‘honeymoon’ stage of a sexual relationship. however, it is important to remember it is a skill, and as such can be learned. if you open up to another, there is always the …

couples can influence one another with eating patterns, often to their detriment, and this can boost caloric intake. change is inevitable and it is best to accept that some change in weight and physical attractiveness will happen for both of you over time. being critical of your partner is toxic and according to john gottman is one of the predictors of divorce. attacking the overweight spouse compounds the problem by adding layer upon layer of shame and humiliation. whereas they …