If you have ever taken your spouse, partner or significant other for granted then it will absolutely 100 percent negatively affect your relationship. I admit that I've done it and have gotten much better at not taking my spouse for granted as I have gotten older. If you think about it for a moment, you can say that no one likes to be taken for granted and very few people in their right mind will put up with it.

There are many ways we take our partners for granted and here are a few of them. We take our roles more seriously than theirs. We think our contributions to our work and family are significant and our partners are less so and are often not acknowledged by us or even played down. Many of us forget to say please and thank you and some of us never do. Sometime we fail to even say how lucky or fortunate we are to have each other. Sometimes we get very demanding and treat our spouses or partners differently than we treat our friends. Other times we may speak for them or speak to them with disrespect in front of others. One thing I learned a long ago is to let your other half speak for themselves because we do not know what they may be thinking (unless you're a mind reader). Another big no is to come to expect certain things like the dinner being ready when you come home or the house being cleaned. This goes for males or females.

Nothing makes people feel better than that wonderful feeling of being appreciated and valued. Can you remember back when you met your other half and how absolutely wonderful it was? There was a feeling of mutual admiration and affection. We said things to each other like, "It's so nice to hear from you" or "thanks for calling". Do you remember spending what seemed like hours, (but it didn't matter) in the greeting card aisle at the store where you always found the card that you knew for sure was written just for the new love of your life? Why do we lose all of that?

Many people believe that it's inevitable that mates lose that special bond that initially draws spouses or partners together. This shouldn't be what happens because this is something that we all have 100 percent control. If you make the choice to be grateful and not take others for granted then you will do so.

This is not only the right thing to do but strengthens relationship and keeps us feeling happy and in love. There is no doubt that these actions must go both ways and if both partners are willing,then relationships will flourish.