After 45 years of marriage and 20 years of talking with couples who have stayed with us at both of our lodging properties, we have learned how important it is to take
time together to improve relationships. February seems like the
appropriate month the share with you some of the specific advice
mentioned by our guests through their writing in our Vineyard Inn and
Riverbluff Cottage in-room journals. What follows are 10 tips with
advice from guests who have stayed at Hermann Hill!
1.) Exercise together! If possible get out in the open breath the fresh air and enjoy the beauty around you! Exercise is also a great mood enhancer! Exercise releases natural endorphins and hormones that make you feel better about yourself and gives a boost to your libido! What our guests said….“We took about a 10 mile ride on the Katy Trail which was beautiful and invigorating and then came back to relax in our hot tub together.”…. “It was nice to get out and walk through the town visiting the shops along the 3-mile walk! We even each got a free t-shirts for talking the walk.”
2.) Work out a deal with another couple to take turns watching each others kids so you can enjoy date night! Or ask family to watch the kids and reward them with their own stay! This will give both you and another couple the time alone together you need!…. “My husband and I were sent here by two amazing parents who saw two tired and exhausted young parents. This has been a trip of rest, relaxation and re-connection for us. We will never forget this time and look forward to coming back next year!”
3.) Take a bath together. Taking a bath together creates a deeper connection and you don’t even have to clean the tub at Hermann Hill…. “After sharing a jetted bath we snuggled together to watch a movie in bed together.”
4.) Play a game together! Laughing together can create compassion, trust and intimacy! It helps you loosen up with each other and develop a stronger bond in your relationship….”Our favorite game was that every time a train went by we would kiss. This led to some great fun and laughter.”
5.) Focus on what’s important in life. Life can put everyone on edge from time to time, whether it’s stress from work or family. When “life” happens it is important to focus on the bigger picture of it all…. “Marc and I decided to come here and spend some time together and also reflect on what is really important in life. To my fellow 202’ers. I offer the following words of advice. Walk out onto the deck when night comes, those stars are for you. Look at the trees, the river, and the tiny houses far away…they are all for you. It’s okay to be scared in life but never lose wonder in the greatness of this magical world.”
6.) Surprise your loved one. This can be to celebrate special moments such as anniversaries or birthdays or just because your loved one may need a break. Surprises aren’t just a gift to your loved one they are moments that will create memories together…. “This was our first trip to Hermann…It was my birthday and my boyfriend surprised me. IT WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!! I had such a relaxing and peaceful time. It was the perfect getaway for us!”
7.) Pamper yourself and your relationship. Everyone deserves a break and when you take that break together to pamper yourself it gives you both that time to just enjoy each other….”After exhortations, reminders, and last minute instructions, we left the kids (with their cell phones) and headed out for a weekend of freedom and self-indulgence. No cooking, laundry, grocery shopping or running kids here and there. Just a quiet time in our normally regimented life to enjoy a place where we could focus on each other.”
8.) Communicate and dream together! Communication is the best thing for a relationship but we have to remember communication is a two way street. You have to listen, ask questions, dream together, plan together….”25 years together, it went by so fast. It seems like we never have the time to do the things that really matter. But in these two short days we…slept in, talked, soaked in the tubs, watched weird movies, explored, planned, dreamed (grand kids, travel, retirement). It seems we are still the same persons we were 25 years ago, only a little bit wiser.”
9.) Explore new things together. Sharing new experiences together from outside the relationship will enrich your relationship….”This was our first stay here. We have been married a LONG time, and always look for new places we can go and reconnect with each other. The Cottage was a great place for us to take advantage of everything Hermann Hill had to offer.”
10.) Appreciate what you have. Many days you go through life in a trance doing your day to day routine, speaking in passing, maybe sharing a dinner or two together but never time to reflect on what you and you partner have built over the years…. “We wonder where did the years go? Because time does move so fast, it was critical to find a place to slow down and fully appreciate all that we’ve been blessed with, how to best be grateful for today and give some thought to our future. Best of all has been the time to reflect, laugh, pray and look to our future and also to realize just how blessed we are!”
