7 secrets of happy relationships

1. Communication
Keep talking, keep listening, keep caring. When couples stop talking to each other the relationship is all but over. Good communicators are able to share their thoughts and feelings honestly, and refrain from criticising, whinging, shouting or nagging. Good communicators are better at resolving conflict, too and are ready to forgive or apologise when necessary. This is the big one.
2. Support
Good partners are a team, joined at the hip and stronger facing the world together. You’ll both have career, money, life, death and luck blips in your lifetime – be there for their downs and you’ll still be there together to share their ups.
3. Play
Sometimes the old sayings are the best. ‘Couples who play together stay together’ still holds true whether you’re 18 or 80. Whether you share a passion for sport, partying, gardening or travel, the more you like doing things together the more you’ll cement and strengthen your relationship.
4. Respect
With mutual respect no-one gets shouted down, walked-over or stuck with all the horrid jobs. With love and respect comes fidelity and all the perks of being trusted, loved and appreciated.
5. Freedom
Allowing, or better still encouraging your partner to grow and develop, even if it means more time away from the relationship, is a wonderful gift if it’s given happily and without jealousy or unreasonable limitations. If people feel free they don’t feel the need to escape.
6. Romance
Intimacy and romance is as important twenty years down the line as it is during courtship. From holding hands to sharing a sofa, from kissing to a comfort cuddle, show you still care by setting aside time to just be together. Candles, chocolate and flowers still help too!
7. Sex
Good partners care about how to please their partner sexually. They’re attentive, responsive and tender. As the couple matures, so does a good sex life.