Technology

Patent definition: the four requirements for patents

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What are the four essential requirements for an accurate patent definition? These same four things are also necessary requirements to file a patent that will be valuable and protect your invention from theft. They are:

The invention must be novel.

Being novel means that it cannot be known by others or used by others before the inventor claims to have invented it. It also means that the invention cannot be patented or publicly disclosed before the invention is claimed by the inventor. The patent must be applied for within 1 year after public disclosure or use.

The invention must not be obvious.

The proposed invention may not be obvious to a person with average skill in the area of ​​knowledge of the invention. An example could be a red toy car. A blue toy car would be an obvious extension of a red toy car. However, a toy car that transforms into a robot is not an obvious extension of a red toy car.

The invention must be described simply and completely, so that a skilled person can duplicate it.

A knowledgeable person must be able to fully understand the invention for it to be patentable. If the fear of having the invention stolen motivates the inventor to omit essential elements of the invention, then it is not patentable. This person would be better off keeping the invention a trade secret.

Patent claims must be clear and specific.

Patent claims are the hardest, but most important part of a patent. They are the intellectual property that you ask the patent office to protect. These claims must be specific and clear, otherwise the patent office will not accept them. Even if the patent office accepts them, they must be defensible in court.

Business

Can Anyone Trade Carbon Credits?

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Anyone Trade Carbon Credits

Carbon credits are allowances that companies are allowed to emit, and if they exceed the number of credits, they must purchase additional credits. These credits can be used to offset the amount of carbon dioxide the company is producing, or they can be used to reduce the amount of carbon they are producing.

There are two types of markets for trade carbon credits. The first is the regulated market, and the second is the voluntary market. The regulated market is a legal contract in which a company must meet specific emission standards. In order to achieve this, the company must use technology or other methods to reduce its emissions.

The best way to know if a particular market is the one for you is to learn about its regulations and how it works. For example, the United Nations Development Programme provides advice to governments and companies on how to make and produce credits. A company can also participate in a local project, such as in a state or province.

Can Anyone Trade Carbon Credits?

A company can also create its own carbon market. This can be a conglomerate between different operations within the same global organization, or it can be a small, private project for a single business. In the case of a global organization, the carbon market could be an internal, or external, voluntary market.

The carbon credit market is growing rapidly, and recent studies have predicted that it will reach $100 billion a year by 2050. There are several ways to invest in this area, including through carbon ETFs and hedge funds. However, it’s a good idea to speak with an accountant or financial advisor before putting any money into it.

Carbon offsets are a more ambiguous, but still a significant, alternative to reducing carbon emissions. They are less tangible than carbon credits, but can still prove to be very useful for companies looking to make greener choices. For instance, if a company produces more hydrocarbon than it should, it can sell the excess to a company that is able to emit more carbon dioxide. Using these offsets can be a way for a company to delay making any environmentally friendly changes, or to simply buy more time.

For some, the carbon offset market may seem like a scam. But it can actually be a legitimate business venture, as long as the market is run by an ethical and responsible entity. For instance, there are independent certification organizations that vouch for the quality of offsets.

The carbon credit market is one of the fastest-growing areas in finance, and is not limited to companies. Individuals can take part in this market by purchasing carbon credits or futures contracts. There are also popular investment apps that allow people to trade these options. In fact, the European Union’s own market, the EUA (European Union Allowances), has sparked controversy, as some traders have foretold a tightening of emissions caps worldwide.

Buying and selling carbon credits can be a profitable and worthwhile endeavor for anyone. However, it’s not always easy to decide which company to invest in.

Business

How to buy lingerie for the first time

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In our store we see girls shopping for lingerie for the first time and while to the casual observer it may seem easy for a girl to shop for lingerie, the opposite is true. We often assume that just because a girl is a woman, she naturally knows how to shop for clothes and especially lingerie. What could be further from the truth? Shopping for lingerie, particularly sexy lingerie, is not something most mothers teach their daughters. Mothers often take their daughters to shop for their first bra, but that may be the last time many girls have any guidance on shopping for lingerie, particularly sexy lingerie.

When should a girl buy lingerie? Let’s first define our terms. Bras, panties, and stockings are technically lingerie, as they are undergarments, and 15- or 16-year-old girls can purchase these items on their own or without much or any adult supervision. The age varies between families and how independent she is and wants to be the young one. Keep in mind, however, that surveys reveal that over 80% of women wear ill-fitting bras, and this remarkable figure started somewhere. Mothers are free to help their daughters as much as they want, but keep in mind that young girls have a lot to say about how much help they need from their mothers. Purchasing bras and panties for everyday use is often done in department stores, and due to the very nature of nameless, proper guidance may be lacking. On the other hand, how much help does a young man need to buy underwear? She’s likely to buy a four-pack of form-fitting whites and continue her business if her mom doesn’t pick up a couple dozen at the local Costco.

When it comes to shopping for bras, the matter is a bit more complicated as a girl can mature, and along with that maturity or weight gain comes a larger bra size and the need for additional adjustments. Most young women aren’t going to get one try on let alone two or more so they are often left to their own devices like taking a pair of bras to the dressing room and fending for themselves. Shopping for sizing-appropriate bras is so important when it comes to comfort, posture, and how a girl looks in clothes that it can’t be overemphasized, but most stores don’t have employees who can correctly measure the bra. a woman’s bra anyway. Look in your local papers and you’ll notice that from time to time department stores offer “bra fitting specialists” to visit their stores. This suggests that full-time staff are not trained to properly fit the bra. Such is the nature of the lingerie business as a whole. Women are conditioned to try on clothes to determine the correct size, but in the case of bras it is not so easy.

Price: As in most garments, the higher the cost, many times the higher the quality of the garment. Most would agree that certain brands are more expensive, better made, and may be more accurate in sizing. It is always important to buy quality if you can afford to buy the best then this can solve some problems when buying lingerie for the first time. The difference in cost can and should result in greater attention to detail, finer materials, and a longer lasting garment. However, don’t get carried away with the idea that you have to pay more to get the best quality. Also, be sure to shop during sales and clearance times to get the best value for your money.

Service – Even if you pay more, it’s always better to shop at a full-service store or boutique, especially when shopping for lingerie for the first time. The cost of goods and the amount of service you receive usually go hand in hand. Buying lingerie or anything else for the first time should raise more questions about fit, material, and what to look for in a quality garment. Salespeople at a high end store are often, not always, able to help you with any questions you may have. Even if you don’t buy anything, you can learn about what you are buying and what to look for. You can pay too much for lingerie considering the use it will have. If you are paying $250.00 for a pair of panties, consider how durable the panties are, how often they will be worn, and perhaps 5 pairs of panties at $50.00 is a better value. On the other hand, a gown that will keep you warm, useful for 2-5 years, and worn every day, is perhaps a worthwhile investment.

Purpose: Lingerie can be something sexy to wear under your work outfit or something to wear on your wedding night or honeymoon. Work underwear should be more durable, functional and comfortable than the outfit that will be worn for a few precious minutes or an hour once a month or less. Consider the purpose as you would a pair of running or work shoes. Purpose is important, and when combined with price, you can make informed decisions. Often a pair of panties and a sexy lace bra can be worn to work as well as being a sexy outfit for a romantic evening. Don’t think outside the box; throw out the box when it comes to lingerie. Many of these items of clothing can and should serve a dual purpose.

Where to shop: Consider time is money and there are lingerie stores and then there are lingerie stores? What do I mean? Department stores offer little sexy lingerie but plenty in the bottoms area, a term used to refer to bras, shapewear, and panties. Consider what you are looking to buy? If you are looking for a sexy little number to warm up your heart rate, then the lingerie boutique may be your best bet. There’s nothing wrong with shopping everywhere, but if time is short, plan where you’re most likely to find land.

When to buy: When shopping for lingerie for the first time, it’s best to determine what’s available. If you live in Manhattan, just hop on the bus or subway and shop. Many other areas do not have this unlimited shopping access and your purchases may require you to shop online or at a mall. Shopping online offers the anonymous experience you may want, but the inability to try anything on, so be careful. First time buyers really need the ability to try things on first before buying.

Since this is your first time shopping for lingerie, be sure to consider taking someone with you for the hell of it. Whether it’s a boyfriend, husband, girlfriend or your mother. Shopping is always more fun when you have someone to share the experience with. They can be invaluable when it comes to advice, but listen to your instincts as you’re the one to use it, so enjoy the experience.

Home Kitchen

Karndean Vinyl Flooring – Possibly a Perfect Floor

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Karndean vinyl flooring is one of the most exciting new floor covering options available on the market. Karndean creates vinyl plank and tile that realistically simulate natural materials such as wood, stone, slate, ceramic and marble. With recent advances in technology, these luxurious vinyl planks and tiles look so stunningly real that they will amaze you.

These floors are very different from sheet-type vinyl. As the floor is installed piece by piece, it gives it a handcrafted look just like real hardwood or tile flooring. Karndean also makes these tiles and planks in semi-random patterns so there are no repeating patterns that make your floor look cheap or like standard vinyl resilient flooring. A unique Karndean feature is the coloring of the floors. Slight changes are made to the color of the vinyl to give a slight random color difference. By doing this, the floors look like the real thing and there are no stain issues if you ever need to replace a board or tile. There are six different reasons why many consider Karndean Luxury Vinyl Plank and Tile to be the perfect floor.

1. Karndean vinyl flooring is stain proof against just about everything except petroleum-based spills. This includes everything from red wine to pet urine.

2. These vinyl tiles and planks are also waterproof. If you have a kitchen or bathroom leak, water won’t harm the vinyl. This is a very distinct advantage over hardwood and laminate flooring. If you have a leak under the dishwasher and you have hardwood or laminate, you will have to replace part or all of the flooring at enormous expense. With Karndean, the worst case scenario is that you have to re-lay the floor.

3. This flooring is hypoallergenic and resistant to mold and mildew.

4. Luxury vinyl plank and tile are very difficult to scratch compared to laminate and hardwood. If you have pets, you absolutely cannot install a better floor than luxury vinyl.

5. Karndean tiles are almost impossible to chip or break compared to ceramic, slate, stone and marble tiles. If you drop something heavy on them, it can cause a slight indentation. Of course, if you have real tile, it will probably crack or chip and need to be replaced.

6. Cleaning is very simple. Regular dust mopping and an occasional damp mop are all it takes. There is never a need to reapply any necessary finishing or polishing.

Now that you know why Karndean is close to perfect, what are some of the styles on offer? Karndean offers 6 different series.

1. Van Gogh’s lines have 22 variations of wooden planks. Almost every color and species imaginable is available.

2. Karndean’s Art Select Vinyl has 11 options to choose from between simulated wood planks and limestone modular tile.

3. Da Vinci is one of the most popular styles for luxury vinyl tile. With over 33 tile selections ranging from 16 to 12 inches in ceramic, slate and sandstone, you can find anything you want. The wooden planks are also part of the Da Vinci series.

4. Knight Tile has 33 tile and plank options. Terracotta, Marble, Slate, Stone and Wood complete the Knight tile.

5. Karndean’s Michelango line is a unique product line of tiles for a different decor. There are 12 products including Italian mosaic, Spanish pebble, and even a metallic mosaic.

6. Renoir is the latest series of tile and vinyl plank flooring from Karndean. Renoir has 13 different types of Wood, Slate and Concrete tiles.

Digital Marketing

Brainwriting, a more perfect brainstorm

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Brainstorming is a very powerful method of generating lots of ideas very quickly about almost any problem or issue that needs an innovative or creative solution. However, brainstorming is also a very fragile process. It’s meant to be a free-flowing, non-judgmental sharing and list builder that sparks everyone’s creative fire, but it’s sometimes very hard to pull off in an organized public gathering.

There are many distractions in most meeting situations. What another person says, most of the time channels the thought of others instead of opening it. There are almost always dominant and passive personalities in any meeting situation. People who are normally afraid to speak in a meeting often shut down completely during a brainstorming session. Only one person at a time can effectively speak in a group meeting, and unfortunately that prevents other people from speaking. The bigger the pool, the bigger the blocking problem. Of course, there is always someone in the group who will do and say whatever it takes to please the boss. Once that person speaks, it will be hard for others to do anything but agree. We tend to think that groups are more effective than individuals, but the power of peer pressure and conformity often works against the brainstorming process. We may get a warm group feeling about the social sharing that takes place during a public brainstorming meeting, but the reality is that it often stifles creativity.

To help overcome these problems, a better brainstorming method called idea writing was created. As the name implies, you write down your ideas instead of expressing them. Extensive research and testing have shown that brainstorming generates 40 percent more creative ideas compared to traditional brainstorming. That’s a big increase.

The way it works is before the meeting starts, you make blank forms that have the problem definition written at the top and a table below to list ideas. You need at least one sheet of this form for each person who attends the meeting. There are many different ways to create a form that makes sense for the problem you are dealing with, but one common procedure is called 6-3-5 mental typing.

The 6-3-5 represents 6 people, 3 ideas per person in 5 minutes. The table on the form is 3 columns wide with plenty of space to write down ideas. Number the columns idea 1, idea 2, and idea 3. Make the table 6 rows down the page for the 6 different people. When the meeting starts, divide people into groups of 6. Each person takes a piece of paper and takes 5 minutes to write 3 ideas on the first row of the form to help solve the problem statement. Do not put your name on the sheet. Then you trade your sheet with someone else. Give your sheet to the person to your right, or place all six sheets in a pile in the middle of the table and pick one at random from the pile. Then take the next 5 minutes to add 3 more ideas to the next row on the new sheet. You can use the ideas already on the sheet to stimulate new ideas or create new ideas of your own, whatever works best for you. After doing this for 30 minutes you will have a total of 108 ideas from each group of 6 people.

Relationship

Speed ​​Reading Tactics: Comprehension and the Myth of Expanding Eye Size and Word Clusters

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As you begin to research and select an approach to developing your speed reading skills, you will inevitably come across continual references to the fact that untrained readers need to expand the number of words that catch the eye with each stop. These stops are called links. In theory, the more words your eyes catch per fixation, the faster your reading becomes. Programs that focus primarily on training to increase the number of words per fixation are misguided in their understanding of the nature of comprehension. This approach will inevitably lead to failure in developing lasting speed reading results. Here is the truth.

As you read the marketing materials and even participate in training for these misguided programs, you will see and hear references to widening your eyes (actual distance and number of words per fixation). You will be encouraged to expand the number of words in these “word groups”, “word groups” or “word groups” as if the number of words is the actual goal. But that is not what reading comprehension achieves.

Focusing to expand the width of the eyes is most often achieved through mechanical rhythm, especially if the student uses a software program. This mechanical approach almost always uses flashing words on the screen, sometimes four to six inches wide. The size of the “group” does matter. Its natural span of clear focus at normal reading distance is between one and three inches in diameter. Expanding beyond 3 inches can be harmful because it changes the way muscles work.

Your natural viewing experience is dimensional, which means it has vertical and horizontal measurements. What this means is that your eyes naturally see the words above and below the particular line you are focusing on. Vision training programs that expand the visual space too horizontally are an unnatural approach and miss the important aspect of reading comprehension.

To master speed reading, you must also understand the meaning of print or understand it. Focusing on the number of words for each of your eye stops doesn’t allow your mind to respond to the print. Your mind will respond faster to some things and slower to others. It all depends on your familiarity with the content being read. As a learning specialist, I naturally read faster in materials related to reading and most psychology. Since I am not a physicist, I will be slower when reading books and articles on quantum theory. Also, if I focus on how many words my eyes see for each stop, I can’t focus on the meaning of the letter and therefore I lose comprehension.

Knowing that the mind’s response to print is the goal of all reading, mechanistic approaches, especially software applications that maintain a constant pace for speed reading, are misguided and ineffective.

Speed ​​reading students need to go beyond focusing on individual words and see more for each eye. However, the reason for expanding the size of the stop is not simply to count the number of words for the fixation, but to increase the meaning of the printed material in general. For example, I can read the word “car”, but I understand more if I also see “the red car speeding by”. The additional words expand the meaning of the whole idea. My mind gets a better picture faster. Reading in this way is called expanding “word meaning clusters.”

Instead of focusing on the physical expansion of eye width, word clusters, word clusters, and artificial pacing, the speed reader needs to learn to expand their search to “Word Meanings.” The meanings of words give rise to understanding. Remember, you can only read as fast as your mind can comprehend the material. It’s not just about flicking your eyes from point A to point B as fast as you can. You want to get from point A to point B and understand what you have seen.

As mentioned above, these clusters of word meanings can appear in areas ranging from 1 to 3 inches in diameter. Learning to move your eyes more efficiently is necessary in all speed reading training, but it is not the only goal. If you look at some print and try the “dimensional” statement mentioned above, you’ll also notice that you’ll view the print using its dimensional view which shows the words apparently out of grammatical order.

Can your mind interpret the print with this “out of order” appearance? Yes you can. However, that requires some training, practice, and learning more about understanding.

So if you really want to master speed reading, you now know that the myth of expanding the width of the eyes is really about expanding the stops of the mind for comprehension. Beware of programs that focus primarily on eye movement, and look for programs that focus on training your mind to respond and understand at faster speeds. In fact, with the right training, you will understand better at a faster rate with the right approach to learning to read fast.

Health Fitness

A Raw Food Diet You Can Live With: The 60-40 Plan

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For most of us, it’s hard to think that we can be satisfied eating like rabbits (lettuce, carrots, raw vegetables) and, more importantly, many of us feel that we would ever be able to follow a diet that consisted only of those food. . However, there are numerous health and weight loss benefits to raw food diets, benefits that we experience while allowing ourselves a full dinner and other treats.

Here’s the good news about starting a raw food diet: You don’t have to make it a lifestyle, and you certainly don’t need to feel confined to eating only raw foods when you’re hungry. What I propose is called the 60/40 raw food diet, which means that 60% of the food you eat is raw and 40% is regular cooked food. simple and not intimidating.

I have personally known several women who have had tremendous success on the 60/40 raw food diet because even though they eat as much (if not more) food than before, 60% of those calories come from healthy foods. This means their fat and calorie intake is drastically reduced for most of the day and they can save that 40% of their diet for a healthy but filling cooked meal and perhaps, if they are feeling daring, a small dessert and drink. of red wine afterwards.

What makes the 60/40 plan for eating raw so delicious is that you never have to go hungry, plus the calories you eat are packed with essential vitamins and minerals to pack more punch than that low-carb sweet. bar that you have been desperately chewing to satisfy yourself with food all day. The natural simple sugars contained in a single apple or banana are enough to give you the kick you need to start your day off right, and the calories and fat found in most raw foods are far more sustainable than complex, processed sugars. ​which are found in many candies, and even in the diet brand bars you can buy at the store.

Most women who have tried the partial raw food diet find that the best system for them is to make all foods for breakfast and lunch and then for dinner, when they are most craving something substantial and filling, they can enjoy will a delicious, complete dinner without regard to calories or fat intake.

Don’t you care about fat and calories? How can it be?

Because if you’re already on a low-fat, low-calorie diet, the calories and fat in your breakfast, lunch, and snacks probably only make up 40% or less of your daily calories. That gives you room to breathe at dinner (within reason, of course) and is a satisfying and much-needed break from what you’ve been eating all day.

Give it a try and you’ll find that you feel better on a diet made up of fresh, healthy foods and you never go hungry and can afford a big dinner, dessert and maybe a glass (or two, to be decadent) of wine.

Legal Law

forex strategy trading

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There is no doubt about it, if you are interested in genuine investment opportunities, then forex strategy trading offers you tremendous possibilities. More commonly known as the forex market, the forex market is believed to generate approximately $1.5 billion in turnover every day. However, in order to see regular returns on your investments, it is vital that you have some knowledge of forex trading strategies.

Your first step in forex strategy trading is to learn the market. Get to know the market and educate yourself on how the system works. You will find that the major players in the forex market are commercial banks, central banks, and also companies that deal with foreign trade. Many companies and individuals are drawn to the forex market because of the speed and liquidity of the assets. Transactions are done in an instant and many are lured by the promise of big profits.

The most frequently traded currencies are the US dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound and the Australian dollar. Trading is both speculative and virtual in nature, there is no physical product that is actually brought or sold. For example, you may decide to buy the British pound against the US dollar in the hope of seeing a rise in the pound. Then, when its value has risen, you would sell it for a profit.

Also, before you start trading, practice! In fact, you can practice trading on paper. This will help to become familiar with how the market works. You’ll find that some online brokers allow free paper transactions, this helps you practice and get used to the tools and software involved, and of course, you gain invaluable experience in the process.

When choosing a forex dealer, be sure to do your research on the company. Make sure the dealer is regulated by law and can offer good customer service. Avoid dealers with schemes that sound too good to be true!

Forex trading may seem attractive and a good way to invest your money. But it can be stressful at times and even the most experienced investors will suffer losses from time to time. The key is to minimize losses by educating yourself, learning from your mistakes, and following a strategy that works for you.

Lifestyle Fashion

If I miss my spouse during the separation, does that mean I shouldn’t get divorced?

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Sometimes I hear from people who were sure that separating and then seeking a divorce was the best idea. Sometimes they strongly believe that their marriage is too far away to be saved. Other times, they believe they have fallen out of love with their spouse. But then, at some point during the separation that they were sure would lead to divorce, something strange starts to happen. They begin to miss their spouse. To their surprise, they are deeply affected by the absence of their spouse. And often they have no idea what this should mean for their marriage or their hoped-for divorce.

I heard from a wife who said, “Over the last five years, my husband and I have grown seriously estranged. For the last year and a half, I have been closely watching my marriage. Because I was trying to determine if something was gone and if I had to try to save him. I decided I was really done because I thought I had no feelings for my spouse and my marriage. My husband had a hard time accepting this, so I decided to seek a separation before filing for divorce. I thought this would help him. he would give some time to adjust and that would be the best and kindest way to do it. I felt he had made up his mind. We have been apart for about four weeks. In the last few weeks, I have started to miss my husband desperately and I don’t know what to do with this .My best friend says that I miss him because it had almost become a habit and that doesn’t mean that I still love him or that I should change my mind about the divorce.But I don’t know if she’s right.I find myself thinking about him with longing and remembering some of the good times of our marriage. This is normal? Is my marriage still over?”

He couldn’t decide whether this wife’s marriage should end or not. This was a decision that only the couple should make. However, if I’m being honest, I think the wife missing her husband was quite revealing and important. I’ll tell you why below.

Missing your spouse during a separation means that you are not indifferent, and in my opinion this is significant: I know that many people will not agree with what I am about to say. But I think that if you still have feelings for your spouse, this could mean that your marriage isn’t really over. I believe this is true even if you are feeling negative emotions like anger, frustration, or confusion. Because I think that if you have any feelings, it means that you are still involved in your marriage, even if it frustrates or upsets you.

I know that people will often say that you miss your spouse simply because your habit has been broken. They will say that parting requires some adjustment, even if there is nothing left. I actually don’t agree with this. I think feeling nothing or a sense of indifference could be an indication that it’s over. But this was not the case here.

I find that people who are really over their partner or their marriage actually feel a sense of peace and acceptance. There is no anger, frustration, longing, or confusion. There is simply nothing else. Because both people know that they have done everything they could and it still hasn’t been enough.

He couldn’t tell this wife what he was feeling or why he was feeling it. But it seemed pretty obvious to me that she hadn’t reached the point of indifference yet, and I think this was telling. Of course, this is just my opinion. And the only opinion that really mattered was his own.

Where to go from here: Again, this is not my decision. It really was her wife’s decision and she would probably have to sit still, take some time and dig deep in order to hear what her heart was trying to tell her. This was a serious decision that could have a major impact on two lives.

So this is just my opinion, but it seems to me that it makes sense not to rush. She could take her time and see if the feelings continued. She wasn’t sure that she should fully share this with her husband until she was sure of her feelings. Because I’ve been the wife on the other side of this, and I wouldn’t have wanted my husband to give me false hope until he was sure.

So I would suggest just staying present and waiting to file for divorce until you are more sure of your feelings. Regardless of whether this relationship was eventually going to end, it’s always a good idea to leave things in a positive light. It is always a good idea to maintain a positive relationship with someone who will always be very important to you. So I would suggest not making rash decisions and just watch and listen. Your heart may be trying to tell you something and you can’t get the message if you’re not listening and willing to hear what it has to say.

Real Estate

10 tips for building a lasting lesbian relationship

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Falling in love is wonderful, but it’s really the easy part of any lesbian relationship. What takes work and commitment is maintaining that relationship even after the passion fades, which it probably will over time. Most experts agree that passionate love has a life expectancy of 2-4 years. Therefore, compatibility and mutual respect become more and more important as your partnership progresses. Here are some tips to help you. Most are applicable to any relationship, but lesbians have some specific concerns.

  • Communication, communication, communication: Don’t let the little cracks in your relationship turn into insurmountable canyons! Let your partner know what she’s thinking about things big and small. If something bothers you, speak up. Problems cannot be solved unless you talk about it.
  • Make time for each other: The demands of life will always get in the way. If you don’t schedule “Us” time, it probably won’t happen to you. Once an hour is blocked on the calendar, you both know to schedule other appointments around that hour. For example, you can block Friday nights as time you spend on your relationship.
  • Keep it cool: You know how the saying goes, “Relationships take work.” Well, that’s true, but it doesn’t always have to have a negative connotation. If you introduce an element of surprise into your relationship, it really helps. Bringing flowers home without an occasion, making a reservation at your favorite restaurant, or suggesting an activity out of the ordinary really goes a long way in keeping your relationship interesting and vibrant.
  • Grow together, not apart: A really effective way to keep your relationship strong is to have shared goals. Working with your partner on a project or plan for the future can bring you closer by increasing your time together and sharing thoughts, dividing responsibilities, and even resolving your areas of disagreement. Ideas can be as simple as joining a volunteer group or as complicated as buying and restoring an old house in the city!
  • Maintain Healthy Outside Relationships: Difficulties with family and friends can really take a toll on the health of your relationship. Stay on good terms with the people who are important to your partner. Solve the problems that exist. Let your partner know that you recognize the importance of their friends and family.
  • Sex and Intimacy: Avoid “lesbian death in bed” at all costs. Sex is an important part of your relationship. Sex is strongly related to intimacy, since the hormone oxytocin is released during the sexual act. That hormone is responsible for enhancing your feelings towards your partner and is essential for long-term bonding. Another powerful hormone, dopamine, is released when you engage in strenuous physical exercise. Dopamine is also believed to be responsible for feelings of passionate love. So if things are getting a little slow in the bedroom, try taking your partner out dancing before your next sexual encounter!
  • Avoid The Green Dragon: Jealousy! Unfortunately, very common in the lesbian community, jealousy can ruin a relationship. Jealousy occurs when there is a lack of trust between partners. If you feel like you are being controlled by a jealous partner or that you are jealous, confront those feelings. Discuss with your partner why you feel threatened in the relationship and leave it behind! Get professional help if you need it.
  • Commitment: You can’t always do things your way…and neither can your partner. Commitment involves keeping the relationship on even ground; keep the balance between you. One strategy is to rate internally how important an issue is to you when you disagree with your spouse. If you quietly brush off the problem as a 1 or 2, let it slide. If you rate the importance a 9 or 10, continue the dialogue and find a solution you can both live with.
  • Stay Connected: Stay in touch with the lesbian/gay community. Unlike heterosexual couples, homosexuals have virtually no social support. Having other LGBT friends, attending LGBT events, and going to local clubs can really prevent the social isolation many of us endure.
  • Maintain Good Health: Hey, nothing is sexier and more romantic than a clean and healthy body! Take care of yourself. Eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly.

Maintaining a healthy relationship is definitely worth the effort it takes. Just consider how miserable you’ve been in past relationships gone wrong. Then remember how wonderful this woman has made you feel. The trick is to stay on top of it and never, ever take your partner or the relationship for granted. If you make your relationship your #1 priority, you have the best chance of a happy and fulfilling future together!