I really like this quote about celebrating anniversaries:

"A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year." - Paul Sweeney

So much for "and they lived happily ever after" huh?

One of the reasons I like this quote so much is that it reflects the reality of long term love relationships.

There will be times when you are really in to each other and there will be timmes when you believe your really can't stand each other, and everything in between.

So many people go into marriage believing the happily ever after quote, and it sets them up for frustration and disappoinment.

In their book "The Case for Marriage" authors Linda Waite and Maggie Gallagher state that many unhappy couples report being happy again within a few months or years.

The ebb and flow of relationships

Relationships have a natural ebb and flow to them. If you are not feeling close, it does not mean the relationship is over. When you are not feeling close, it simply means that you are not feelig close.

Hang in there, coonsistently do the things that help each of you feel connected to the other, and more than likely you will feel close and connected again.

Jeff Herring

Jeff is a marriage and family therapist, singles and relationship coach, mentor coach, speaker, syndicated relationship columnist and author.

Jeff has a full time private practice in Tallahassee in which he specializes in couples, teen and parent counseling. He also is a relationship coach specializing in working with couples and singles. Some of his professional activities include:

==> Internationally syndicated relationship columnist through Knight-Ridder/Tribune Media Services, with a weekly readership of over 10 million worldwide

==> Sought after speaker for organizations, associations, churches, and corporations

==>Twice weekly appearances on The Steve and Sara Show on Magic 107.1

==> Author of "Keep the Changes: 52 Tools for Successful Living" a collection of his best columns, as well as several e-books including "How to Create a Passionate and Loving Relationship.........Forever," "How to Beat the BOZOs: Dealing with difficult people without becoming one," and "Tame Your Teen: THE survival guide for parenting your teenager.

==> Founder and CEO of TheArticleGuy.com

==> Founder and CEO of SecretsofGreatRelationships.com

==> Founder and CEO of ParentingYourTeeanger.com

==> Founder and CEO of ToolsforSuccessfulLiving.com

==> President of BuildingYourIdealPractice.com

==> President of ConsciousDatingTallahassee.com