According to psychologists the first journey as a couple is a very important milestone in the development of your relationship. Both stress and unusual situations frustrate us and highlight character traits, you have never noticed before. If the relationship has a serious long-term potential, then the first journey is a litmus test: this trip will show you how each of you reacts to stress and most importantly – whether your reactions can coexist or not.
- You don’t have to live a conjoined life – spend some time apart
Perhaps you are madly in love with each other. However, living a conjoined life is not obligatory, when you travel with someone you love. I bet you did not spend all your time together before the trip, even though you live together, you do not hang out together in ordinary life for such a long time. For this reasons many couples should presume traveling (especially your first trip) as a test: all the household cracks and difficulties, all the annoying trinkets will increase as if you see them under a microscope. It happens because you share your new shelter and spend all the time together.
On the one hand, this is a good simulator for your future life together (if you plan it, of course). On the other hand, take it for granted: being on the vacation together does not mean you are obligated to spend all the time as a couple – you are not lovebirds, are you? You can do things apart from time to time. Even the most balanced couples happen to hate doing the one and the same thing. One of you may want to go to the beach, and the other one may prefer a tour to the pyramids. One goes for a run, and the other one goes to a museum? You have every right to do it when you travel with someone. So do not blame yourself!
According to the latest researches, the happiest couples are those where the partners are not afraid to have separate interests and hobbies and spend some time apart because they have time to miss each other. It is absolutely not necessary to sacrifice yourself just because your partner’s hobby is different. There is no sense in dying in a boring museum, or on the beach under the hot sun, or from sea sickness on a stupid yacht.
- Make new friends
Hang out in the real world, meet new people, and make new friends with both tourists and locals – either together or separately. You can make friends with other couples, when you hang out as a couple, for example. Besides, many of the couples become your life-long friends. So it can be very cool. You can also make friends individually, but you should be more careful in this case, especially with opposite-sex friends: you risk offending your partner and making him jealous, so it’s better not to play games on this matter.
- Count to 10
Ta-da! At last, one of the troubles we’d been imagining before the trip happened! The hotel administration cannot find your reservation? Your lover’s credit card is blocked? Are you lost without a navigator or a map? And you see that it happens exactly because this idiot … (forgot the pin code of his card; did not charge his smartphone in time, did not follow the time, did not check, did not verify, did not contact in advance …) A righteous anger (or fright, or fatigue, or despair) hits your brain – and you’re ready to … What? To swear? To blame him for the failure and lack of brain cells (or to blame her, when you travel with a girlfriend)? To blame yourself for everything, because it would be better for you, as a more adult, wise and responsible person, to take all the planning under control? Yes, travel with someone you love requires specific skills, especially if this is your first trip.
Here it is – a classic quarrel in a romantic trip. For some couples, the first trip becomes the last trip, alas. The thing is that such quarrels often result in breakups. Is this how you want your romantic journey to end? Catch your adrenaline rush before it bursts out. Close the fountain, breathe and count to 10 (or even to 20, if you are a really passionate person). Keep your passion for the king-size bed waiting for you in the room, when you travel with a girlfriend. Thanks to our friends from PlanetOfBrides.com for providing this article.
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