- Take up another activity that the two of you don't share. "Hmm, what do we both not like to do? Maybe I should try fly fishing?"
- Know when to be there and when to step back. "Honey, looks like you could use some alone time. I am going fly fishing for the weekend....in Iran."
- Don't look through pictures - do you really want to see your current boyfriend happily snuggling with another girl? "Um...exactly how many girlfriends have you had?" The truth is we know that we've been with other people, but do we really need to?
- Be friends with his ex girlfriend. I mean if they are friends, why can't you be friends too? "Wow, your ex-girlfriend is intelligent, beautiful and has a great personality. Why exactly are you not dating again?"
- No jealousy. EVER. Try. Jealousy kills happiness. It's the worst emotion of all. "Ah, you aren't dating her because you just aren't right for each other, but I, on the other hand, am all those things and then some, right?" Plus it's definitely a good sign to know that your current boyfriend knows how to choose women. Why would you want your boyfriend to have crazy ex-girlfriends? I mean what does that say about the kind of girls he attracts (hellloooo, aka you).
- Learn how each other communicates non-verbally. Maybe he does things for you to show he cares, but doesn't tell you how ridiculously gorgeous you are, but to him, he is saying that by changing your tires. You get the idea.
- This is important - Know which battles to fight. Ours - Flush the toilet even if it means wasting another gallon of water. Apparently some guys aren't into saving the world when it comes to yellow toilet water. I, on the other hand, say "if its yellow, let it mellow" but in this case, all gets flushed. I'd rather not have a disagreement over pee water. There are other more important issues, that can be discussed once a stronger foundation is built. (Don't worry Ali, I will still flush the toilet)
- Just because you live together, doesn't mean you can walk around in ratty underwear. "What about ratty running shorts?"
- Pets comes 1st. Always. Don't even try to change the rules. "...there were three in the bed and the little one said 'roll over, roll over'..." In this case, the "little one" is Puffy, and she is telling me to "roll over, roll over" and leave her and Daddy alone. Go back to Number 5.
- Be honest with yourself and never do anything with resentment. That's just not cool. "I stayed in Bangkok for you, and you won't even take out the garbage?!?!"..."I went to Iran to make money for us, and you won't flush the toilet?!?!"
- Don't try to change anyone, just accept and be happy. "So maybe I don't want to flush the toilet"...okay bad example. No good examples here. If it's an issue, bring it up, otherwise, let go and move on. Habits can be changed, character can not.
- If you are upset with each other, and aren't quite sure if you are overreacting, talk to a reliable friend 1st. "He went to bed without saying goodnight to me! I should go back to India, right?"..."No, I think he was probably just tired, and you may be overreacting"..."Okay, I'll give him another shot. I mean he did go to Iran to make money for us." (Thanks to all the unmentionable reliable friends everywhere)
Now to comment on an earlier post "Bangkok Cara"...I can order food with confidence in Thai (even if that means ordering the same thing over and over) and my back is becoming more flexible, so with this said, coming to Bangkok was a good idea :)