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