Much of what life and love have to offer may be old hat to you and your love. Here are some new things you can do to enhance your connection while having fun.

1. Mirror exercises. Stand side by side and look into the mirror and simultaneously into each other's eyes. Mirrors increase light by about 30 percent, so you will see deeper into the soul of the one you love.

2. Backward hug. Stand back to back and hold hands. Feel your partner from this new perspective. Talk about what sensations you have and what emotions come up as you get to know another side of your partner.

3. Alien lover. Pretend that your partner is from another planet and doesn't understand anything about life and love on planet Earth, and it is your job to teach her or him. You cannot speak; only gestures and looks are allowed.

4. The un-plan. Get up one morning and go to a place where neither of you has previously been or even chosen to go. Just get in the car and pick a direction to drive. When you find something that looks interesting, stop in and check it out.

5. See me. Blind people touch faces to get a tactile portrait of what someone else looks like. Close your eyes and, together, feel each other's faces.

6. Future visualization. Sit facing each other, hold hands, close your eyes and, at the same time, picture your future together. Do this for a few minutes and then open your eyes and share what you saw.

7. Tactile touching. Anytime you pass each other in the house, extend a hand and touch one another. It can be a fun high-five or a sensual caress on the small of your back as you slide by your mate in the hallway.

8. Spot chasing. On the next pleasant evening when there are spotlights in the sky, follow one to its source. It's an adventure!

9. Surprise, surprise. Make reservations months in advance to go somewhere you know your partner will love. Tell your mate to mark the calendar for that weekend, but don't say why. Just wondering what the surprise might be will add a wonderful dimension.

10. Sing-song. Write your partner a song and sing it to him or her. Don't worry that you're not the American Idol. This fun and loving action will make it a No. 1 hit for your partner.

These are just a few suggestions for how to make your relationship sweeter and deeper; be creative, and you can come up with others. The only way you can fail is to not try.

— Dr. Barton Goldsmith, a marriage and family therapist, can be reached at 818-879-9996 or via e-mail at Barton@BartonGoldsmith.com. He has lived and practiced in Westlake Village for more than a decade. Hear him live on KCLU Radio, 88.3 FM, from 1 to 2 p.m. Mondays.