As the Roman statesman Cicero once said, “Eyes are the window to the soul”. These highly expressive orbs communicate wordlessly our thoughts and feelings, allowing others to tell if we are hurt, sad, or covering up something we’d rather not talk about. So, the million dollar question is – when was the last time you truly looked into the eyes of your partner?
Intimacy is usually considered to be a word associated with sex or lovemaking, but according to the dictionary, the real definition is quite a bit more complex. It can mean sharing a secret, being warm, safe or comfortable, or even (one of my favorite definitions) taking a liberty or freedom. Aren’t these all just delightful extensions of the act of love, when you get right down to it? A great way to foster intimacy of both the sexual and non-sexual variety is food. Cultures have spoken affection through food since the beginning of time, and show no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Kissing is something that we do often, but seldom truly think about. Scientists believe that kissing evolved as a way of evaluating potential mates in our ancient ancestors (an extreme close-up, after all, reveals a lot more than a coy glance across the cave). By becoming so close to your partner that your faces actually touch, you are opening your body language up, saying without words “I trust you on a subconscious level, enough to let you get this close without being guarded about it.”
Intimacy is the art of achieving a true, deep, lasting connection with your partner. While it’s often easy to think that this can be achieved without working very hard, the truth is that intimacy is an ongoing effort, and one that should be frequently attended to. While the first step is always respecting your partner and anticipating their needs, intimacy is also easily improved in the bedroom by enhancing the quality of your lovemaking.
This can be achieved by incorporating lover’s games, massages, and other playful methods to engage your partner in the gentler aspects of sex. While it may take a little time to work these activities into your normal routine, the benefits are long-lasting and very pleasant.
