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A Book in the Hand for the Courting
Romantic storytelling came into vogue about the
time that the troubadours began to composesongs of
love and yearning. As time passed, the invention of
the printing press produced massquantities of
books, making them available to just about
everyone. With this change, many people became
literate and took up reading as a form of
entertainment.
Couples also began to use reading in their
courting. Both men and women took turns reading
their favorite passages or poems aloud. Through
books, lovers found the words they couldn’t
say on their own. Lovers would spend hours
searching the texts for just the right words for
theirpartner and an equal amount of time reading it
to them.
Books were given as gifts with special words
highlighted and dedications written to make them
more special. Lovers had discovered a way to tell
each other their thoughts, feelings, hopes, and
dreams through printed words.
Reading Builds Good Communication
Skills
Why not pick up reading as a new aspect of your
courting? It will make life more interesting.
Reading is a form of communication training that
naturally develops effective listening and
communication skills. When you know how to
communicate effectively, your relationship will
stand a better chance of being a happy
one.
If you think about what reading to your partner
teaches you, it’s worth more than anything you
can do for your relationship. It teaches each
partner how to take turns listening, and then
speaking, and then giving feedback about what
you’ve heard. This is a wonderful way of
communicating. Reading to your partner will not
only make you feel closer, but it will strengthen
your relationship as well.
Encouraging Your Partner to Read to
You
People have different comfort levels with
reading out loud, so you need to be sensitive to
this. The best way to get your partner to read to
you is to first let him or her know it’s what
you would like. Second, encourage him or her to do
it.
If your partner is uncomfortable reading or you
suspect that he or she is, follow these tips to
make reading to you more desirable for your
partner:
- Don’t read over your partner’s
shoulder.
- Don’t correct your partner’s
mispronunciations of words.
- Listen without interrupting.
- Praise your partner afterwards for reading
to you. (For example, say, “You made me
feel so special by reading that to me.”
“You have a great reading
voice.”)
- Close your eyes as your partner reads to
you.
- Give your undivided attention to your
partner.
When encouraging your partner to read, make his
or her attempt as rewarding as possible. Sometimes
people are uncomfortable reading out loud because
of bad experiences in the past. By following the
preceding tips, you will show your partner that
reading to you is a positive experience.
© 2008, ExpertDatingAdvice.com
Other Relationship Issues,
Books
Nancy Fagan is
the best-selling author of 'The Complete Idiot's
Guide to Romance' and 'Desirable Men: How to Find
Them' has appeared on several hundred radio and
television shows including Ricki Lake, Men are from
Mars/Women are from Venus, ABC News, NBC News, CBS
News, The Berman & Berman Show, FOX News. She
has been featured in most major newspaper in the
United States and worldwide as well as regularly
mentioned in the nation's top magazines such as
Ladies' Home Journal ('Can this Marriage be
Saved?'), Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Men's Health,
Bride's, Seventeen, Women's Day, Family Circle,
Women's Own, BBW, Complete Women and dozens of
others. To read more, visit www.ExpertDatingAdvice.com
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