RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

1. You are responsible for your own happiness. The only person who can make me happy is me. I've learned this one the hard way.
2. Follow through on your promises. I hate being let down, and its even worse when I let someone I care about down.
3. Admit your mistakes and ask how to make it right. Everyone makes mistakes, but its better to admit them than it is to make excuses. Don’t forget to ask how you can make it up to your partner.
4. Listen to your partner. And don’t pretend to listen either. If your partner is speaking to you it is for a good reason. Find out what that reason is.
5. Show your affection whenever possible. Make face to face time every day. Make it a priority.
6. Do not hide anything from your partner. Hiding something is the same as lying. Its lying by omission. Always be honest.
7. Give them space. You don’t have to be around one another 24/7 trust your partner and give them time to be an individual.
8. Express your feelings. And do it often. Your partner isn’t a mind reader.
9. Encourage without nagging. If you want your partner to grow, tell them so! 
10. Make trust and forgiveness your default mode. If you and your partner are unable to resolve an argument trust and forgive rather than hold a grudge. 
11. Go to bed at the same time. Resist the temptation to go to bed at different times. Go to bed at the same time, even if your partner stays up later to do things while you sleep. 
12. Cultivate common interests. Its healthy to have interests outside of your relationship but don't forget about the importance of activities that you can do together. 
13. Walk hand in hand or side by side. Its more important that you're with your partner than to see the sights along the way. I've had a hard time with this one. I get really excited and start pulling a partner along behind me. 
14. Focus more on what your partner does right than what he or she does wrong. In the heat of the moment it will be much easier to focus on what your partner isn't doing. If you accentuate the positives you'll find them all over the place.
15. Hug each other as soon as you see each other after work. Skin has a memory of good touch versus bad touch. When you say hello with a hug your skin is abundant with good touch giving you all sorts of happy feelings.
16. Say “I love you” and “Have a good day” every morning, and "Good night" every night before bed. Just do it.
17. Do a status update during the day. Call or text your partner to see how their day is panning out. This way you can adjust your expectations before returning home, or if they're having an awful day give them a positivity boost.
18. Be proud to be seen with your partner. Use affectionate contact, like hand holding, not showing off but that you belong to one another.