Whether youve been in a relationship for over 25 years or are just starting out, we all have our own idea of what romance is. Romance is an essential element of every successful and passionate relationship. Usually relationships start with romance but life has a tendency to interfere. I have listed below what I believe are the 10 biggest misconceptions that people have about Romance:

1.Romance and Sex are the Same Thing: This could not be any further from the truth. Although romance can lead to sex, a person being romantic just for sex will be completely transparent and possibly backfire. Think of Romance as Mental Foreplay. Romance lets your loved one know that not only did you think about them but you took the extra step to show them how much they mean to you.

2.Romance isnt important in a relationship: Between our jobs, hobbies, and all the other things that life throws at us, our relationship with our partner tends to take a back seat to those things we perceive as more important in life. The reality is that the relationship with our partner is the glue that holds everything else in our life together. Adding Romance to your relationship will not only make it more exciting but also more enjoyable.

3.Being Romantic requires a lot of money: Romance isnt about how much money you spend on your partner. Its about trying to make some of their fantasies and dreams come true. Most of the time just opening the door for your partner or complementing them on the way they look will make them feel more loved than buying them an expensive gift.

4.Romance requires a great deal of time and effort: While some aspects of romance can require lots of time, romance is also about the little things that make a big difference in a relationship. A simple thing like turning down the lights, putting on your favorite CD and dancing in the kitchen while dinner is in the oven exudes Romance and takes very little time and effort.

5.Only Women are Romantic: In most relationships, the woman is considered to be more romantic, however this does not have to be the case. Both men and women need to partake in the hunt for romance. The only difference between a romantic person and the unromantic person is the amount of time they devote to doing the little things for their partner and their relationship.

6.Flowers and candy always work: Although flowers and candy are a nice gesture, they are so commonplace. You can still give your partner flowers and candy but spice it up some. Try taking your partner to the place where you first met or kissed and present the flowers and candy to them there. Going that extra step and not stopping at ordinary makes all of the difference when it comes to Romance.

7.Youre either born a romantic or youre not: The truth is, no one is born with a Romance Gene. Everyone has to learn how to be romantic either from a book, the way your friends or family treat each other, movies, TV, or some other resource. One nice thing about Romance is that it is contagious, as time goes on you want to be more and more romantic towards your partner and chances are your partner will be more romantic in return.

8.Saying I Love You is enough: Everyone likes to hear I Love You but when it comes to Romance, actions can say more than a thousand words ever will. Being truly romantic is about backing up the words with something your partner will remember. Try something like writing I Love You on the top of the stick of butter with a toothpick before setting it on the table for dinner.

9.Romance takes a lot of preparation: The nice thing about Romance is that there is no exact formula what one person finds extremely romantic may not be romantic at all to someone else. The key to being Romantic is to find out what your partner finds Romantic. Dont be afraid to ask them, they will be glad you did.

10.Being Romantic on Valentines Day and Sweetest Day is enough: Being romantic on the days you are supposed to be is expected. Being romantic all year round on the other hand is vital to the overall health of you relationship. Every successful relationship needs impulsiveness and spontaneity it keeps things exciting.