Valentine’s Day is widely recognized as a time to highlight love across all types of relationships. Friends gather for Galentine’s Day, families exchange warm messages, and romantic partners plan date nights, post affectionate photos, and exchange gifts. The first blog post on this website highlighted…

In the beginning, it feels like magic. Starting a new relationship often brings a rush of energy that feels almost euphoric. There are endless smiles, late‑night conversations that make sleep feel optional, and moments where time seems to pause. Your heart does not only flutter…

All couples fight. Even though it can be painful, conflict is a natural occurrence. Life throws plenty of challenges at couples. Stress, anger, and disagreement are inevitable. You may know the hit 80’s anthem, Love is a Battlefield, where Pat Benatar belts, “We are young,…

We often think of commitment as a big grand gesture such as wedding vows, moving in together, or saying the first “I love you”. But what if the real glue in relationships is made from much smaller acts of commitment? Micro-commitments are the subtle, everyday…

When we commit our love to one another, we simultaneously place our trust in the ability of others to be considerate of our emotions. In doing so, we give power to those we care about opening ourselves to be more vulnerable than ever before. In…

Grief can be difficult to understand, especially when emotions are colliding. Finding solace in grief begins with recognizing how unpredictable these emotions can be. You may be feeling angry about losing someone, you may be sad they are no longer with you, you may be…

With over 20 million copies sold, Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages has become a cultural phenomenon since its release in 1992. Translated into 50 languages and featured on bestseller lists like The New York Times for hundreds of weeks, its influence now stretches far beyond the bookshelf. From…

Communication is a vital aspect of every relationship. Being open and having the ability to communicate with our partners is extremely important when building a healthy relationship. Emotional expression, availability, and communication skills regarding emotions are strong predictors of relationship satisfaction (Bloch et al., 2014).…

There is no better feeling than welcoming home your service members from deployment. Months, days, hours, and minutes all counting down to the moment you get to hug them. A lot of stress releases and you are able to take a deep breath again. While…

Every new mom can relate to the infamous postpartum days. The daily struggles of breast milk-stained shirts, sleepless nights, and excessive worrying become the new norm. Intrusive thoughts about keeping your baby safe inundate your delirious, sleep-deprived brain to the extent that you start to…

Have you ever been in a military relationship, or found yourself, a civilian, considering getting romantically involved with a military service member? If your answer is yes, or you’re intrigued by the idea, you may have many questions about the unique challenges military relationships face.…

Every interracial relationship is different. However, one idea remains constant in all of these pairings is that race matters. By this, I mean race should not be the determining factor in whether or not you choose a romantic partner, but it should be something that…

Many people hope that one day they will be lucky enough to get married and build their ideal future with a partner that will be with them for the rest of their life. Some recent research indicates that married people are more satisfied with their…