How to be a Happy Couple... Some couples are head-over heels. Some are content and comfortable. And others can barely stand to be in the same room together. What's the difference between the happy and not-so-happy couple? There are numerous ways a couple finds long lasting happiness.

1. THE SIMPLE THINGS MATTER, SHOW A LITTLE LOVE. A card, phone call, scribbled words on a bathroom mirror, cooking a surprise dinner, a kiss on the neck. There are hundreds of ways to show you care. And it's even more important to express your love after the newness of dating is over. The simple things keep couples connected and happy.
2. DECISIONS TIMES TWO. Remember you're a team now. Giving your partner a voice (that means allowing your partner to speak while you listen) when a decision needs to be made gives you both ownership in the outcome. Sometimes you have to compromise, and you should always be available to listen to a differing opinion than your own. If you can negotiate this complicated territory you're well on your way to being a happy couple. Always being told what to do only breeds resentment.
3. EVERY COUPLE ARGUES. BE CREATIVE WITH THE MAKEUP. Arguing is actually healthy. It means a couple is communicating. After you have a fight, and it happens to every couple, try to put the argument in perspective with some creative afterthought. Talk a walk, breath deeply, never go to bed angry... are all clichés that actually work and help you get back to a happier state of mind. One creative couple we know has a fighting ritual. If they have an argument lasting more than 10 minutes one partner says, "To the tub." They fill up the bathtub and work out the issues amongst the bubbles and hot water. They say it always works. Being creative with how you resolve your differences will go a long way to helping you be a happy couple. And if all else fails, the old standby - makeup sex - isn't half bad either.
4. BE PRESENT AND AVAILABLE. We're all busy people. Sometimes life takes over our availability to be present in a relationship. Happy couples find time to be together. A standing Friday night date, dinner on Tuesdays, always returning phone calls within a specified time. Establish through communication and actions that you're available when your partner needs you - regardless of how chaotic life gets. Keeping perspective on who and what is most important in your life is a great strategy for long lasting happiness.
5. KEEP FALLING IN LOVE, AGAIN AND AGAIN. Never stop dating, even if you're in a long-term relationship. Routine creates boredom. And when you're bored you look for other avenues for excitement. Seek new and interesting things to do together and more meaningful ways to relate to each other. If you keep the spirit of dating and adventure alive, being in a couple never gets old.
6. MAKE TIME FOR SEX. Spontaneous sex is exciting, but happy couples know that great sex doesn't just happen. After you've been together for a while, the three times a day sex adventure usually tapers off. Sex takes time, practice, and planning. If you make time for sex, as unromantic as that might sound, a couple's intimate time remains a priority in the relationship. And the adrenaline you'll carry through your day knowing you're going to get some, is an exciting prelude to the big event.
7. NEVER ASSUME, ALWAYS ASK. The happiest couples communicate the most effectively. It takes time to understand how your partner communicates. Is he the strong silent type? Hate confrontation? Clam up when asked a serious question? Give you mixed signals when the words coming out of his mouth don't match the actions of what he's doing? Communication can be a rollercoaster of emotion and frustrating roadmap to maneuver. Sometimes you may think you understand what they're saying and find out later you had it all wrong. Advice from happy couples - never assume anything. Always ask. Always clear up misinterpretations and misunderstandings to make sure they don't throw you both off course.

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