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Chrissy and I celebrated our 22^nd anniversary yesterday. 

We celebrated by getting take out from our favorite Indian restaurant, Jaipur Junction, and taking it to a park for a picnic dinner. 

We had been to this park many times before.  We reminisced a bit while we ate. 

We have been on many dates in the past 22 years.  What I realized afresh was that while we have been on many great dates, most of them have been quite forgettable.  

Here are three ways to make your dates more memorable:

1. Do something surprising or totally different.

Like the time we were living in Portland Maine and I surprised Chrissy on her birthday by taking her down to Boston for the day.  Or the date we went on while in India.  I share the details here Delhi, Dating and Doing New Things. 

2. Be fully present and aware. 

There are different types of memories.  Facts, experiences, and physical skills are all things we remember, or forget.  One requirement to make any memory is attention.  Pay attention when you are on a date.  Be fully present in the moment.  Being distracted and not present is a sure way to forget a date. 

3. Document and share. 

You don’t have to rely on your memory alone, or even your spouse’s memory, to make your date memorable.  Take pictures.  Write about it somewhere.  Share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.  This does not mean you are an exhibitionist.  First of all, you remember more when you share your experience.  Secondly, recalling dormant memories is made easier when you see something to jog your memory, like a picture. 

Unless you date only on rare occasions, then not every date will be outstanding in your memory.  That is okay.  Chrissy and I certainly don’t recall every date we have had to Jaipur Junction.  But we will never forget that it was our favorite during this season of our lives.  

I hope you find these three ways to make your dates more memorable helpful.  

I am preparing to launch an All New Spouse Dates Challenge!  This is as much for me as everyone else.  One of the benefits of participating will be getting to practice all these ideas to make your dates more memorable.  Plus much more! 

If you are interesting in learning more let me know.  Send me an email (steve@spousedates.com) or sign up here so I can keep you posted.