What Makes "Romance?"

A catchy little question, isn't it? Some people say they're not romantic. Others say they need more romance in their lives. I'm wondering if there's even a middle ground that equates to "just the right amount of romance."

Having been in multiple long-term relationships, I can tell you what my definition of "romance" has come to be over the years. I'm confident in the fact that it differs for everyone yet there's one key aspect that's the same across the board: communication.

In my case, romance is when my better half sneaks me a call mid-day just to tell me he loves me. It's him letting me have the last "big" chip in the bowl of chips and salsa while he takes the crumbles. Romance happens when, out of the blue and at the oddest moment, he tells me I'm beautiful. When he rolls over in the morning, kisses my neck, wraps his arms around me and falls back asleep. I can't want for those things - they just happen and they're incredibly romantic to me.

But they're all forms of communication. If you find that you're lacking "romance" in your relationships, take a look at your communication style. There's no way to be romantic if you don't express yourself. The gestures don't have to even have words - they just have to be expressed. When you're with someone who makes your heart skip a beat, you generally find yourself thinking about them at odd hours. Call them and tell them. When we lose the desire to do those small things, we start putting distance between ourselves and our partners - a sure-fire equation for relationship demise.

If you need to make more "romance," take one simple step: tell your partner how you feel or do something unexpected for them. The gesture won't go unnoticed and you just might find it feels good to be romantic!