The Wish List by Mark Sichel, LCSW Ever wish you could talk openly and honestly to your partner about the things you need to make you happy? Now's your chance! Fill out your very own Wish List below and print-out your results. Use your wish list as a starting point for a discussion with your partner. Encourage your partner to make one, too! WISH LIST: I wish you would be more affectionate with me. I wish you would be more responsive to me. I wish you would make me a greater priority in your life. I wish you would work harder at making our relationship grow. I wish you would acknowledge what I do for you. I wish you would notice my appearance more. I wish you were more romantic. I wish you'd surprise me more often. I wish you would try to understand some of my struggles. I wish you would understand the ways in which you are difficult to live with. I wish you would spend more time with me. I wish you would work harder and make more money. I wish you would work less and spend more time with me and our family. I wish you would make a greater effort to do things I enjoy doing. I wish you could be more generous and good-natured when I ask you to do something you don't want to do. I wish you were less oblivious to my needs. I wish you were willing to assume more responsibility for your problems. I wish you were more communicative. I wish you would discuss big decisions with me. I wish you would let me spend time with you and your friends. I wish you would spend more time with me and my friends. I wish we could spend more time with your family. I wish we could spend more time with my family. I wish we didn't have to spend so much time with your family. I wish you would care more about your health. I wish we could travel more often. I wish you wouldn't watch so much television. I wish you wouldn't be so judgmental of me. I wish you would recognize how hard I work. I wish you would be willing to compromise more often. I wish you would clean up after yourself. I wish you would help with household chores. I wish you would go into therapy. I wish you would go into therapy with me. I wish you wouldn't take drugs. I wish you wouldn't drink so much. I wish you wouldn't get angry with me so easily. I wish you would consider getting married. I wish you would stop asking when we're getting married. I wish you would consider having children. I wish you would understand that I don't want to have children. I wish you would stop cheating on me. Close your eyes, cross your fingers and click the submit button and you will have a print out of your relationship Wish List to discuss with your partner. Just remember, this is a tool to start a discussion, not a cudgel with which to bludgeon your partner. If you want to find out more about why it's never a good idea to try and force someone to change, read What You See is What You Get.                    RECOMMENDED READING FROM THE PSYSTORE: Secrets About Life Every Woman Should Know: Ten Principles for Total Emotional and Spiritual Fulfillment by Barbara De Angeles Our Price: $18.36 "Of course, it seems logical that happiness can and should come from within, and waiting for it to come from outside through other people, our work, or life experience can be disappointing. However, logic is one thing; living as though we know we are responsible for our own happiness is something else. De Angelis recognizes this dichotomy and keeps hammering home the point that real happiness cannot come from outside ourselves." -- Booklist For a selection of books on this topic, visit the Psystore. ** All prices subject to change without notice