Tip of the Week

"Have you decided what to get for your valentine this year? You could try something classic, like chocolates. Or something blingy,

like earrings. Or sexy, like lingerie.

"But if you really want to improve your relationship, you should give your loved one an i.o.u.

"Find a nice piece of stationery, and in your most graceful lettering, assert: 'I promise to write about our next three fights as though I were a neutral observer.' Then, doodle a heart on the page, stick it in a pretty envelope and give it to that special someone over dinner.

New research suggests that this may be the most valuable present you’ll ever give. After all, conflict is inevitable in long-term relationships, and the way people navigate it can affect not only their happiness, but their mental and physical health as well."

Diane Sollee, SmartMarriages