| One of the challenges of even the strongest | | | | can make us feel younger and alive. Changing |
| long-term relationship is the difficulty in | | | | our appearance, even a few times a month, |
| keeping things fresh and new. | | | | makes us look at each other through new eyes |
| | | | and makes us focus on each other in a |
| We are creatures of habit, developing | | | | different way. |
| routines that work for us without our having | | | | |
| to think about it. It allows us to move | | | | Women can more easily and radically change |
| through fast-paced lives without having to | | | | their looks because female hairstyles are so |
| make every little decision on a daily basis. | | | | much more varied than those of men. A wig (or |
| We don't want to stop and think about which | | | | several), in a totally different color, with |
| sock to put on first, which way to drive to | | | | appropriate makeup adjustments, can affect |
| work, what kind of gas to put in our car, how | | | | your response to each other. A man can |
| to stack the dishwasher or fold our clothes. | | | | temporarily grow a moustache, a beard, or |
| | | | sideburns, and elicit new attention from his |
| Habits make life so much more simple that it | | | | surprised wife. An outrageous new piece of |
| frees up our energies to confront the big | | | | clothing for a special date can transform |
| decisions and problems we have to face. | | | | your interaction with each other. |
| However, habits also distance us from what we | | | | |
| do because our mind is not engaged, When | | | | Many of us love costume parties whether |
| someone else points out that we "always" do | | | | something dramatic at Halloween or an |
| something a certain way, we are amazed | | | | only-black-and-white graphics event or a get |
| because we are unaware. Once we've moved | | | | together with friends wearing the clothes we |
| beyond the adolescent and young adult | | | | loved in high school. |
| experimentation phase, we tend to fall into | | | | |
| the rut of wearing our hair a certain way, | | | | Be creative! If you usually dine out in |
| how we put on our makeup, the kind of | | | | business attire, get some cowboy gear and go |
| television shows we watch, the choice of | | | | to a western saloon for some line dancing. If |
| foods we eat, and the lifestyle we pursue. | | | | your usual night out is at a bowling alley, |
| | | | dress to the nines and have a drink at the |
| That is why the sneaky marketing men aim | | | | most expensive hotel in your area, rubbing |
| their message at young age groups who are the | | | | shoulders with the movers and shakers. Try a |
| ones most likely to try something different. | | | | latino nightclub, hot dogs on the pier, or |
| The size and the purchasing power of the baby | | | | drinks with fruit and little umbrellas at a |
| boomers may be extraordinarily large but they | | | | sushi bar. Dress in your skuzziest clothes |
| are seldom targeted by major advertising | | | | and visit a luxury car showroom to laugh at |
| campaigns because they are comfortable with | | | | the consternation you cause. Use that tux you |
| the choices they have made and are unlikely | | | | rented for your niece's wedding when you |
| to really hear messages about alternatives in | | | | visit the local pizza parlor and see the buzz |
| which they have little interest. | | | | you create. |
| | | | |
| Within our lasting relationships, we also | | | | The city of Las Vegas has a wonderful ad |
| fall into habits. They range from unwavering | | | | campaign about "What happens in Vegas, stays |
| go-to-bed-at-night and get-up-in-the-morning | | | | in Vegas." It speaks to our desire to do |
| routines to the day of the week we go out, | | | | something totally different and outrageous to |
| the restaurants we frequent, and the way we | | | | escape the paralyzing pastry of our normalcy |
| communicate (or fail to communicate) with | | | | - but with the assurance that we can return |
| each other. We are so used to being around | | | | without ill effects, no burned bridges |
| our partner that, despite the affection we | | | | forcing permanent change. |
| may feel, we stop seeing each other with the | | | | |
| wonder and appreciation we felt in those | | | | Shaking up our appearance can shake up our |
| first heady months. | | | | partner and our mutual interactions. Do it |
| | | | for the excitement and do it for the fun. As |
| Shaking up our lives by dumping old habits | | | | another ad campaign suggests, "Just do it. |