Hello everyone and thank you for checking out Sports Lore! For those of you who are new to the site, the premise behind our column is that we hope to offer a means for viewers to post their opinions, questions & concerns on various sports related, or even non-sports related, situations and relationship dilemmas. Tell us how issues relate to your personal life and relationships. We encourage you to ask our opinions, send us questions, ideas and comments. Use this as an open forum to vent, learn, understand, laugh and maybe even change your viewpoint!

It’s true that most long-term relationships take effort and work to keep them healthy. It is very easy to let work, kids and busy schedules overrun our lives, and things begin to become very routine. Both parties have to make an effort to keep the spark alive. According to Ellen Kreidman, founder of a six week relationship course entitled "Light Her Fire" for men and "Light His Fire" for women, one of the keys to a successful long-term relationship is that a couple must spend time together alone, at least one night a week, one weekend every six months, and one week every year. This does not include vacations or activities with kids or other couples. It must be completely alone, because it forces the couple to interact with one another and communicate together. This theory is based on a "pay now- pay later" premise. In other words, shell out the cash to pay for the babysitter and a weekend at a hotel now, or pay later in divorce fees and emotional costs. The activity or the destination doesn’t have to always be expensive or luxurious.

A romantic dinner, or a movie once a week is a great idea, but I’d like to suggest something "physical". I know what your thinking. That’s nice too, but I’m actually referring to joining a gym together, playing tennis, jogging or going for a power walk. Developing a hobby together concerning any form of exercise.

According to Dr. Mark Goulston, it is important for a couple to cultivate common interests. After the passion settles down, it's normal to realize that you have few interests in common. But don't minimize the importance of activities you can do together that you both enjoy. If common interests are not present, happy couples develop them.

My husband and I recently joined a gym together. I was a bit apprehensive at first about leaving our child after being at work all day, but again, it is important and necessary to spend that quality time alone. We have time to talk during the ride to and from the gym, and while we are alternating turns on the weight machines. We feel like we have a hobby together and it is a reason to take a little more than an hour one or two times a week, that is strictly for he and I to share together, away from all the distractions of day to day life.

Not to mention the physical and mental benefits of exercising. Instead of collapsing on the sofa each evening, we come home recharged and reenergized. Also, it is much more inspirational to exercise with a partner. I actually look forward to it, rather than viewing it as burden or something I dread doing.

So pick an activity and give it a try. It will improve your mind, your body, and your relationship. Plus, in a few months, you will both be looking so great you will really be getting "physical"!!

I welcome your comments would love to hear about any results you experience from this experiment.