I used to do this for my girlfriend over the phone when she couldn't sleep. It started as reading short stories to her but eventually I realized it was much less about the stories I was reading and more about hearing me speak so I started reading my physics textbook or history I was interested in. Honestly I learned a lot, can't thank her enough. Made me a better speaker as well
She never made it through a short story before passing out anyway lol
Same, in fact nonfiction turned out to be preferred. I thought it was because research papers were boring enough to put her to sleep, but she said it was more about vocal dynamics since academic writing often takes the form of recitation while fiction tends toward dramatization, where the former is steady, planned, and mostly predictable while the latter is intentionally novel, so to speak.
My wife read to me when we were going to sleep. We both enjoyed it, but she'd get more energized and excited about the story as she read while I'd slowly fall asleep. Opposite effects.
She was only annoyed that she'd sometimes say "are you awake?" and I'd answer yes, so she'd keep reading. But I was absolutely asleep.
You live your life in a way that makes other people want to be a part of it. Then eventually you find someone you want in your life. Next you decide to journey together long-term and help each other with each other's problems.
Somewhere along the way you get the government involved—this is the part I don't really understand but whatever.
"You live your life in a way that makes other people want to be a part of it."
That is really well put, and exactly what happened for me. I met my wife in circumstances that it would be impossible to ask anyone to replicate (to quote Dylan, "I helped her out of a jam, I guess"), but the important thing was that at the time we met we'd both done enough work on ourselves to be someone that it was easy for the other to fall in love with.
That really is the best dating advice; work on yourself. Obviously, on a practical level, put yourself out there; use dating apps, go to speed dating, find social venues that align with your hobbies and interests, and so on. But most of all, put the work into yourself. Therapy will do more for your romantic life than any makeover or platitudes about being confident.
You don't need the government involved, or the church. Just if you want their goodies, like a church as venue, or tax breaks. You can have a pagan wedding in the middle of the forest if you want.
FOLLOWING THE ‘EMPEROR’S’ death and the fall of their ancient, centralised government, the insurgents had fled into the mountain massifs of the southern hemisphere, and occupied a fastness in a range of peaks, called the Whisperheads in the local language.
A friend of mine actually does read along twitch streams sometimes between the radio show listen tos and casual games he also does. Most of the non game content is old Doctor Who radio shows and books.
Can confirm - my husband and I started reading to each other years ago. It’s not all the time, maybe a couple of books a year, but always on holiday - it’s an awesome way to be together rather than each stuck into your own book world.
I sleep in the couch for her. It's romantic. Her body is able to detect murmurs in the hearts of ants trying to steal scraps from the kitchen floor. In fact she detected most earthquakes after the 70's several hours before the most sensitive instruments. My job is to romantically lay here immobile between the time darkness falls and the the time the sun shows up again and until noon on weekends of I can help it.
It's impossible so she's always pissed at me for waking her up.
Are you me? You forgot to mention that she gets up to pee 5-6 times a night. Which is what often really wakes her up but she's in too a belligerent mood to admit.
I'm really glad that's there's still happy people in this world that can share a little of their happiness. This was awesome! Good way to start a day. Probably the high point...
On road trips, I started telling my kids stories to make the trips more fun. They are big kids now but the tradition prevails which is now some serious work for me (I have to basically write an essay before each trip so I remember enough details to not butcher the stories) but I love it and love that they love it.
My wife, instantly falls asleep when I start the stories... it's like a super power at this point. I am certain if I ever get in trouble with her, I can just start a story and she'll be deep asleep in 30 seconds allowing me to escape hehehehehe