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Small Things Often: Ingredients for a Happy Relationship

We asked our followers to share some of the “small words, small gestures, and small acts” their partners do for them. Our hearts were so warmed by the responses, we’d love to share some of them with you.

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Couple on date

We asked our Instagram community to share some of the small words, small gestures, and small acts their partners do. Small things often make a big difference in our relationships!

“He always kisses me first thing when he walks in”

“For Christmas my dad got me a microfiber sponge for my car. I kept meaning to take it out to my car but forgot. I got into the car yesterday morning and the sponge was tucked into the passenger door. ? My fabulous, thoughtful partner put the sponge in my car. I almost cried. It was super touching!”

“My husband took all the kids to the park so I could nap.”

“Gently moved me out of the way and finished the dinner dishes & counter clean up”

“thank you for letting me be me. My weird goofy needy sad happy me.”

“cleaned up my place when I was studying”

“thank you for supporting my academic success, making me tea, and calling just to say hello.”

“Cranked up my car and made me coffee”

“When you hang all the laundry and turn the lights off before bed so I don’t have to. You do these all the time. Thanks for choosing to love me everyday.”

“checked in on me with a cute meme and reminded me she loves me.”

“when I was stressed AF last night and you just asked what you could do to help.”

“putting away the left over dinner when I fell asleep on the couch….putting the baby’s car seat in my car in the morning…. hugging me randomly in the morning”

“Emptied the dishwasher before I got home”

“understanding that certain geometrical shapes satisfy my OCD without me even explaining”

“Walked me home in the rain”

“DIET COKE”

“thank you for always listening to me with sincerity”

“helped me stay on track with my financial goals ❤️”

“Changed a scheduled meeting to help her around the house.”

“thank you for helping me fill up my windshield washer fluid ♥️”

“thank you for encouraging me to spend some time on self care”

“agreeing to bring home a foster dog ?”

“thank you for fixing the straps on my favorite bag”

“Thank you for keeping my friends and family updated during surgery”

“thank you for taking the time to move the heater into the living room during the day! It make the living room so warm and happy to walk into and made me feel thought of”

“you cleaned up all the things, all the time. And you changed those diapers.”

“My partner gave me a 6-second kiss every day this week”

“He wrote me an email about how he thinks about me.”

“He opened up”

“finally remembered to take home a leftovers container!!!”

“thank you for doing homework with the kids tonight.”

“thanks for tightening all the bolts on my new weight bench”

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The Gottman Institute’s Editorial Team is composed of staff members who contribute to the Institute’s overall message. It is our mission to reach out to individuals, couples, and families in order to help create and maintain greater love and health in relationships.

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