What do I mean when I say relationships have been wounding for me?
Well, if you look at it astrologically, specifically in my natal or birth chart. My wound lies in relationships. Intimate relationships, rather than general family or friends (though all relationships come with their challenges).
I want to share five ways that support me in my relationship with my other half.
Small ways we can remember each other as we move through the busyness of life.
The person we choose to share our life with. Our “other half.”
The one we love deeply.
The one we hold, and who holds us.
The one we turn to in joy and sometimes take our frustrations out on when life gets overwhelming, I know I do.
It’s real. It’s raw.
And it’s sacred.
Relationships aren’t built on grand gestures or perfect days. They’re woven together in the ordinary moments, the unseen acts, the daily choice to keep showing up with love.
So how do we care for that bond?
How do we keep the thread strong and supple through all of life’s changes?
Here are five small but powerful ways I have found work for me to nourish the connection with your partner:
1. Gratitude
We often notice what’s missing or what’s gone wrong. But what if we started each day noticing what is?
Gratitude shifts the atmosphere. A quiet “thank you” for the coffee/tea made, the hand held, the shared joke, becomes a balm.
Take a moment to name one thing you’re grateful for in your partner today. At bedtime in your journal or out loud. It matters.
2. Appreciation
Gratitude is a feeling. Appreciation is an action.
Tell my loved one what you admire. Remind them of their strengths. Celebrate the small wins.
It’s easy to fall into the rhythm of life and forget to say, “I see you. And I value you.”
Say it anyway.
3. Physical (Non-Sexual) Touch
Touch speaks when words don’t.
A simple hand on the back. A six-second kiss. A 20–30 second hug. These aren’t trivial, they’re nervous system nourishment.
Why? Because a 6 second kiss, and/or 20-30 second hug both bodies release oxytocin, the “bonding hormone” that calms us, grounds us, and deepens our connection.
Let your body speak love too.
4. Eye Contact
When was the last time you really looked into their eyes, not in passing, not distracted, but with presence?
Eye contact creates intimacy. It says, “I’m here. With you. Still.”
Try sitting together and holding eye contact for one silent minute. It might, it will feel awkward. And it might crack you open.
5. Softness in the Hard Moments
This one isn’t easy. But it’s transformative.
In the moments where tension rises, when tempers flare or exhaustion takes over, pause. Breathe.
Choose softness.
That doesn’t mean ignoring your needs. It means remembering you’re on the same team.
Relationships are living things. They need tending.
Not perfection, presence.
Not performance, connection.
So this week, let love be a practice.
Choose one of these five, and offer it as a gift, to your partner, and to yourself.
Because in the end, love grows where we water it.