Stuck in a Date Night Rut?

Some of the best advice I ever received was from my good friend Jenny.  After complaining for probably way too long about being in a rut, tripping in a hole stuck, she said, "Why don't you do the opposite for the week?"  When I asked her what she meant, she explained that if I normally wake up late in the morning to instead for one week wake up with the sun, if I would normally stay in and watch TV on a Thursday night, instead go out to dinner, if I am always punctual, try being a few minutes late.  And at the end of one week, I will have gained a different perspective through these diverse experiences.  I would then have the knowledge to make a better choice about what I want.  And you know what, it worked.

(On somewhat of a side note, this opposite week experiment in my life occurred the same week that I met my husband Ramy... long story short, I was asked to pick up a lunch shift at the restaurant I worked at which I normally would not do... but it was opposite week so I did.  Low and behold Ramy came to lunch that day and the rest is history)

Anyway, all this to say that this concept can be applied to date night too.  If you and your mate are in a date night rut, take a month (or 4 date nights) and do the opposite.  If you normally hang out on the couch watching Netflix, then take that movie date to a theater, if you normally go to the same restaurant, agree to have dinner somewhere you've never been before, if you always stay within a 2 mile radius of your house, venture out across the railroad tracks, if you normally go out dressed up try dressing down (or vice versa.)  This list could go on and on, but you get the point.  You may not love all the results, but sometimes learning what you don't like is just as valuable as learning what you do like.  At the end of your 4 week date night experiment, not only will you have 4 new adventures under your belt, you will have gained perspective on what date night could be.  And who knows, it could change your life forever too.  

Disclaimer: I should also note that opposite dates should work towards the positive...I am not advocating anything that involves breaking the law, or doing something that makes your partner uncomfortable!