Maintaining connection in long-term relationships can be challenging as daily routines take over. To sustain intimacy, it's important to recognize and respond to "bids for connection"—small gestures that invite closeness. Responding positively to these bids strengthens your relationship, while dismissing them can create distance. Couples counseling can help if you're struggling to connect.

The Oxford American Dictionary defines love as “an intense feeling of deep affection” or “a great interest or pleasure in something or someone.” While romantic relationships often start with love, combining individuals with different values and backgrounds can be challenging. Unlike the neatly resolved conflicts in movies, real-life relationships face "solvable problems" and "perpetual problems." According to the Gottman Institute, 69% of relationship issues are perpetual, stemming from fundamental differences in values or personality. Managing these requires understanding and honoring each other's needs through open communication and compromise. Couples counseling can also help navigate these challenges.