California Healthy Marriages Coalition Tells How to Maximize Valentine's Day

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There is no better time than on the most romantic day of the year to look at creating the relationship you always wanted with the partner you already have. While candy and cards are traditional on Valentine's Day, Patty Howell, Vice President of the California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC), says there are simple ways to maximize the impact of Valentine's Day and create a real transformation in your love relationship.  "It really pays to communicate your love in ways that have the most meaning for your partner," says Howell.  "If your partner craves appreciation, quality time, physical touch or acts of service, there is no amount of roses that will do the job; but if your partner's Love Language is gifts, it makes sense to head for the florist shop.  The key is to know what lights your partner's fire and deliver your love that way.  Otherwise, you're just spinning your wheels."

Patty Howell and her husband, Ralph Jones, are coauthors of World Class Marriage, which along with their workshop of the same name, has helped couples throughout California and in more than 10 countries overseas achieve emotional intimacy and lasting friendship. Howell offers the following tips to help couples maximize the impact of Valentine's Day:

• Set goals together. There are two types of goals, those that you are both working towards (Shared Goals) and those that only one of you pursues (Agreed-upon Goals.)
• Avoid blame and public criticism.
• Nurture the honeymoon feelings in your relationship through activities that allow you to experience joy with your partner, use positive "I-Language" when giving compliments, and be generous with your affection.

To build upon Valentine's Day, sign up for a World Class Marriage workshop through CHMC's statewide clearinghouse of relationship-support resources at www.CaMarriage.com.

For the past five years, CHMC has taught proven relationship-building skills to more than 62,000 Californians through Marriage and Relationship Education classes for all ages and stages. 

SOURCE California Healthy Marriages Coalition