DATE YOUR MATE

Keeping your love growing takes time. Most experts say the best way to keep your relationship fresh is by going on regular date nights with your spouse—whether you’ve been together one year or 50!

According to research, couples who have a monthly date night, foster stronger relationships and are 14% less likely to break up. Other findings from the research show couples who participate in date nights experience the following benefits:

Improved Communication

Couples are less distracted by other responsibilities, giving them the chance to talk about important topics and mutual pursuits and goals.

More Novelty

Couples in long-term relationships become used to each other and can grow bored in the relationship, taking one another for granted. Date night adds excitement and novelty to the connection which leads to more satisfaction in the relationship.

Heightened Romance

Date nights can help rekindle the romantic and sexual spark in the relationship when couples engage in intimate and romantic outings together.

Stronger Commitment

Date nights solidify your coupleness and the connection just the two of you share. It makes you feel more committed as you strengthen communication and romance. Going out together signifies to other people as well, that the two of you are a committed couple.

Stress Relief

Stress is one of the main culprits of relationship conflict that can threaten your closeness. Going on date nights gives you an outlet for relieving stress, as it allows couples to step away from the challenges of daily life. During date nights, couples can provide love and support to one another that is also stressrelieving.

Here are some ideas to start up your date night routine:

1. Put your singing skills on display and share your favorite songs with your partner at a karaoke bar.

2. Go to a comedy night or an improv show.

3. Go to a bookstore and browse the travel section. Plan your dream vacation together.

4. Make a bonfire outside (with or without friends) and drink hot cocoa.

5. Pick a room in your house to repaint. Get creative with a color that you wouldn’t normally choose.

Bible Trivia

1. Is the book of Nahum in the Old or New Testament? Or neither?

2. From Leviticus 19:25, the fruit of a newly planted tree must not be eaten until which year? Is it the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th?

3. What was Bathsheba doing on the roof when David first saw her? Was she bathing, praying, singing or hiding?

4. Samson’s strength was correlated with what part of his body? Was it his heart, chest, hair or legs?

5. Job suffered from what physical affliction? Was it deafness, boils, blindness or coughs?

ANSWERS:

1. Who sang the chart-topping song, “Seasons in the Sun” in 1974? Bonus points for knowing what the song is about.

2. Name the group that recorded “The Love You Save.”

3. Who released the popular version of “Wild Thing”?

4. Which Kool & the Gang song was selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry?

5. Name the song that contains these lyrics:

“It’s hard for a back street affair to be easy, For each hour of happiness there’s two hours of pain.”