Are you willing to be different than most. Great partners in relationships are willing. And they have a better life than most. They wake up and go to bed feeling better than the people who only make half hearted efforts towards the one they supposedly love. Mark Webb, Licensed Marriage Therapist returns with another excerpt from his bestselling book, How To Be A Great Partner.

An animated greeting card from the internet can make your loved ones feel loved, cared and surprised. It can make difference and both of you can never forget this moment aside from sending your own personal gift.

Learn to recognize the various types of relationships and when relationships start to break down. Understand the warning signs associated with an abusive relationship, controlling relationships, as well as many relationship myths. Find out what is the fundamental key to the long term strength of any type of relationship.

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they needed your approval. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again. There is no greater existence than the life that gives more than it takes.

It is about time we stopped blaming out our spouses for everything that goes wrong in our lives. What a tendency we have to assign guilt to other people! Everyone makes mistakes, including us, or should I say, especially us.

Some people have a great relationship with a life partner. They have been happily married (or having been living with another) for quite some time; things are just perfect; and the living together flows like it travels on those fast trains: comfortably, efficiently, and bump-less.

After researching numerous books and attending seminars on effective relationships I have found that the following behaviors are pretty consistent in relationships that last and are filled with love, happiness and friendship. Yhey are and in no particular order of importance.

During the course of our lives we meet thousands of people. Some just pass by, some stay for a little while and some stay for a long time. No encounter lacks meaning. In any case, everyone comes to teach us something or to learn something. We can call them friends. Friends are a lot of fun. We learn to have a grand time and treat them with intimacy. We share experiences and we grow from the relationship. They touch our souls.

There are 2 types of missing people: the vulnerable and the non vulnerable. A large percentage of folks who go missing will return safe and sound within 72 hours but there are still tens of thousands each year who do not. If they are of adult age, the police do little to help unless there is reason to suspect foul play.

A common theme in my articles, on my website, and in my coaching practice is on needs. For our purposes we define a need as a condition requiring relief. There are quite obviously many needs that you meet on a daily basis. Hunger may be one of the first things to come to mind when we think of needs, however, this is more of a physical need and we want to focus on our emotional needs!

Most couples are looking for a happy relationship. Happiness is a state of mind that makes a person content. Happy couples have the key that enhances a solid relationship. Happy couples genuinely love and respect each other. Their attitudes towards one another and the way they communicate are a key to their successful relationship.

Un-communicated feelings mean squat! People don't know how you feel until you tell them how you feel. Over twenty years ago my best friend died of cancer. Randy was 41. He was successful, competent, always positive and loved and lived life to the fullest then he was gone.

These action steps are clear, concise and easy to understand and implement. Unfortunately, in the hustle and bustle of life, we are on automatic and often forget the steps necessary to create and maintain healthy relationships.

My reasons for not trying to change men have less to do with resigning myself to undesirable behavior, than with mutual respect and consideration for a man's feelings. Here's why I think it's not fair to men that we keep trying to change them.

Guys serenade her by getting up in the middle of a fully crowded restaurant (not a cheap “all you can eat” type) and declaring your undying love for her in front of a bunch of “I don’t need a man to make me happy” man-hating women. Blaring “our song” outside her window in the middle of the night after you’ve had a nasty fight will get you back in the house quicker than you can say “Halle Berry”.

I have recently encountered the words 'Cougar Women' - a term dreamt up by some male or possibly jealous young female to describe an older woman engaged in a relationship with a younger man. The description 'Cougar Woman' infers a predatory mature woman (35-50+) who hunts, stalks, lusts after and imposes her attentions upon some innocent, inexperienced young male. The traditional description for the older male who does likewise is, 'Sugar Daddy' -- Would it not be appropriate, in light of today's touted 'equality of the sexes' to apply the description of Panther Daddy? Or, where the male is a cheating spouse, then perhaps 'Cheetah Daddy' may fit the bill?

What can your relationships feel like? Often the most beautiful feelings we experience in relationship happen when no one is talking. There is a lot to be present with using just the power of attention on each other and what we are feeling. The beauty and intensity of connection when two people silently listen to each other transcends words.

Rejection in love can sometimes even ruin future relationships. Here are some tips on how to overcome the 'jilted' phase...

Whether a relationship lives or dies largely depends on the individuals involved. What is seen to be an insurmountable relationship killer by one person will just be a minor challenge to another.

Don't let your arguments bitter your relationships. No matter how difficult the subject, use this tip to get to the bottom of the issue while allowing both of you the necessary time to think and come back with a constructive solution.

Spring is definitely in the air, and the sap of all red-blooded males just starts to fizz around this time of year. As the birds start cheeping and the buds start flowering, a guy’s thoughts turn to flirting and fun. No doubt your woman is feeling some of the same frisky thoughts – what better time to whisk her away on a special break just for the two of you?

Sometimes when a relationship breaks down, you finally realise that the 'lovely person' you've been breaking your heart over, actually pulled you down. Why your loss can be your gain.

Do you know how to take care of the heart of your partner? Here are strategies for how to be gentle with a heart in all situations.

Is creating a healthy, happy relationship with the love of your life a dream for you? Not at all, if you would learn some fundamental principles to keeping and maintaining a happy relationship. The principles discussed here can also be applied to all your human relationships - whether it's with your child, your friends, your co-worker, or even your boss!