Nobody would argue that relationships are (or should be) about give and take. If one finds himself constantly giving but never receiving -- be it love, affection, emotional support -- it won't be long before he realizes things are badly lopsided, potentially prompting him to walk unless the other person begins to appreciate him more. That being said, many people argue that relationships should be 50/50, with each partner investing an equal amount of time and energy. But should it always be this way? While I think partners should certainly strive to contribute proportionally, it can't be this way ALL the time. If someone has had a bad day at work or isn't feeling well, it makes sense for one partner to be noticeably more giving for the time being. Then, when the other person suffers a similar fate, they, too, should receive the same treatment. Then there are those cases where both individuals suffer together (e.g., grieving the loss of a mutual friend) and act ...

Let's say you and your partner are trying to decide where to eat tonight. You've been craving Chinese for a while and suggest hitting up the Asian restaurant that just opened down the block. Your girlfriend, however, insists on trying out a hole-in-the-wall Italian place downtown that all of your friends have been raving about. What do you do? As another example, let's assume you invite your friend over for drinks. You turn on the TV to watch the season finale of one of your favorite shows. Your friend, however, begs that you tune into Game 7 of the World Series, which she's been looking forward to watching all day. What do you do? Along with trust, respect, loyalty, and communication, compromise is the glue that holds a relationship together.  If two people genuinely desire for the relationship to remain strong, they each have to be willing to yield to the other's wishes every so often. They can't have it their way all the time, which smacks of se...

Should men always be the ones to drive the car, or should women offer to do so once in a while? Here's my take: A few weeks ago, I submitted a post in which I stated that men should always offer to pay in the early stages of the relationship. However, once the pair have been together for a couple of years, it'd be nice for the woman to occasionally offer to pay for dinner, movie tickets, or something else that won't break the bank. Even if the man is well off enough to pay it himself each time, it's the thought that counts. I bring that same line of reasoning to this post, which poses whether men should always drive. In the courtship stage, men should always offer to drive, whether it's to the beach or a concert. Once the relationship matures, it makes a nice gesture for the woman to volunteer, especially if the day marks a special occasion (birthday, promotion, etc.). After all, is there any harm in driving a few short miles? When it comes to road trips, ...

What's the one thing that men wish women did more often in the bedroom? Not surprisingly, it's to initiate sex. Many men are frustrated by the fact that their partners expect them to always be the aggressors in the bedroom. "Why should I always be the one to break the ice?" they wonder. "It's the 21st century." Women could be reluctant to take the first step for one or more reasons: They prefer to stick to traditional gender roles in which the man pursues the woman They're afraid of rejection, should their partners not be in the mood Initiating makes them feel slutty  The issue is that many guys are left feeling rejected themselves when it becomes apparent that their partners don't want to take the initiative.  So what is a guy in this situation to do? He can start by talking openly with his partner about how he feels. If his wife's initiating sex would make him feel more desired, he should be upfront about it.  If s...