IS LOVE ENOUGH?

by Susan Sprecher, Ph.D.
American Psychological Association explores how love improves over time for romantic couples if satisfaction and commitment increase too.
"Love does tend to grow, but loving each other may not prevent break-up," according to psychologist Susan Sprecher, Ph.D., of Illinois State University. "Couples break up because of decreased levels of satisfaction in the relationship-not because they stop loving each other."
Dr. Sprecher discovered that satisfaction and commitment were as, or more, important than love for couples in their desire to stay together by surveying both partners of 101 heterosexual couples at a Midwestern university. She examined both their actual and perceived changes in love, satisfaction and commitment for each other over a four-year period.
By the end of the study, 59 percent of the couples had ended their relationships. These couples reported decreased levels of satisfaction and commitment before the relationship actually ended, but said that their love remained unchanged.
"These results suggest that people do not end their relationship because of the disappearance of love," said Dr. Sprecher, "but because of a dissatisfaction or unhappiness that develops, which may cause love to stop growing." She also noted that love might not completely end when the relationship ends.
Of the 41 couples who remained together, 71 percent had married. The couples who remained together reported that their love, satisfaction and commitment increased over time. Furthermore, the largest increase was in their commitment for one another.

FINDING SOMEONE RIGHT FOR YOU

Edward A. Dreyfus, Ph.D.
You've heard it before, "Where have all the good men (women) gone?" or, "All the good ones are taken!" The way people talk, you would think that mates were an extinct species. In this article I will be discussing the issue of mate selection in human beings and ways in which you can increase your odds of finding a "compatible mate."
You do not have to be alone; and there is more than one partner for you if you are willing to change your attitudes and put in a little effort. You must give up certain myths, time-honored beliefs, and begin to take charge of your romantic life. Romance is no different than any other aspect of your life. It requires that you take the responsibility for making it happen.
Your perfect partner is not going to materialize out of thin air and appear in your living room. You must develop a plan of action and then act upon it. Many folks are very sincere about their desires to be involved with another person, but are not committed to making it happen. Sincerity is an attitude, while commitment is an action. Sincerity without action does not make anything happen.

Ways to Volunteer: by Paul Twocock

Good neighbours and assisted shopping
Good Neighbours volunteers provide companionship and friendship by making home visits or speaking on the telephone which helps to prevent older people from becoming lonely. Volunteers can also help with tasks like collecting a prescription or small jobs around the home or even visiting the shops to aid their independence. Charities need people to deliver these services locally and is an ideal volunteering opportunity if you are not able to give your time at a set time every week or month.
Lunch clubs and social centres
By volunteering at a lunch club or a social centre, you will be giving company to older or housebound people. Not only are meals often provided, but there are also activities such as dominoes and dancing. Regular outings are organised - so you will have to have a passion for conversation and activity!
Professional support You might be in the world of work but that doesn’t mean you can’t contribute. Far from it - the flexibility of being a volunteer means that even people with full-time careers or other commitments can still find the time to help out. By sharing your expertise, you’ll soon discover just how satisfying and rewarding being a volunteer can be. Whether you have a specialist skill in areas like marketing, human resources and training, recruitment, Health & Safety, finance, fundraising, journalism, copyrighting, customer service, even teaching IT or computer skills �" many charities will always have a role for you. By giving some of your time, you can develop new insights by volunteering on a part-time or occasional consultancy basis in our offices or from your home. Hospital shops and cafes There are plenty of opportunities to help out in local hospitals across the country. In hospital shops and cafés you can gain retail experience - such as using cash registers and ordering stock. Some shops and cafés are open on Saturdays and Sundays, so these roles are ideal for anyone who can only volunteer for a couple of hours on a weekend, as little as once a fortnight or once a month. You can also volunteer with a friend.

The Life Story of Leona Lewis by Juliet Monkish

Born on 3rd April in the year 1985, Leona Louise Lewis is an English singer-songwriter and winner of the third series of the popular TV talent show "The X Factor".
Her father, Aural Josiah was an Afro-Caribbean youth worker and her mother, Marie Lewis was a social worker of Anglo-Welsh descent. The whole family grew up in Highbury and Leona went to school at Ambler Primary School in Finsbury Park. Leona was very fond of music and when she was five years old, her parents fulfilled her wish by sending her to Sylvia Young Theatre School, despite the fact that it was an expensive institution.
After Leona Lewis left school, she did all kinds of odd jobs to get into a recording studio. She was a waitress at Pizza Hut and also worked as a receptionist for Metropolitan Mortgages in Median Road, Lower Clapton, Hackney. In Stoke Newington High Street, she was also a receptionist for Head and Short Chiropodists.
By the time she was fifteen years old, she recorded a version of Minnie Riperton's "Loving You" with music producer Marley J Wills. Subsequently, Leona and Wills were invited to United States by Sony. Wills was full of praise for Leona and said that even though she was young and innocent, she had a very good voice.
In the year 2006, Leona auditioned for the third series of the X Factor. She sang "Over the Rainbow". On 16th December 2006, she was announced the winner and won a £1 million recording contract. Her mentor was Simon Cowell who participated in many training montages with her.
On a show held in 28th October, Leona lewis sang "Summertime". Simon Cowell was blown away by her performance saying that she was the best contestant he came across any of these shows.
On December 2006, her debut single "A Moment like This" was released. It was downloaded fifty thousand times within thirty minutes breaking a world record.
On 16th January 2007, the 2007 Brits award short listed Leona lewis's single "A Moment like This". It got through the second round but was eliminated and hence did not make it to the final selection. However, in the same year on May, it was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Selling British Single.
On 15th March 2007, Leona lewis performed in front of Prince Charles at the UK finals of The Prince's Trust RBS Celebrate Success awards at the Barbican Centre in London. She was presented the award for "Young Achiever of the Year" and also sang "Over the Rainbow".
Nowadays, Leona lewis lives in Hackney with her boyfriend, Lou Al-Chamaa, who is an electrician by profession. They grew up in the same street and have known each other since Leona lewis was nine years old. Based on reports, they have rented a £120,000 flat together in North London and have exchanged commitment rings. Leona lewis has stated that she has made plans to marry Lou Al-Chamaa in the near future. Since she was 12 years old, Leona lewis has been a vegetarian and in the year 2008, she won PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian with Anthony Kiedis, the frontman for Red Hot Chili Peppers.