What relationship advice do you have for new couples? The MOST IMPORTANT THING IS STAY TOGETHER in the good times, the trying times and the bad times.  Next and very important is to treat your spouse like you want to be treated, giving them mutual respect. This includes getting to know their love language and not expecting them to love what you love. Always look for opportunities to compliment and agree with each other,  and make it a purpose to grow together.

Keep romance alive by spend  more time remembering what you loved about each other in the beginning than what you think about things that you are not pleased with later into the relationship. Refuse to argue! Agree to disagree. Spend quality time together and do not  neglect courtship. Surprise each other with gifts and acts of kindness. Date night will strengthen your intimacy  and keep the flame burning like it was in the beginning.

Be quick to apologize if the other person is offended even if you don’t understand why. Look for ways to agree and thank them often for the little things, as well as the big things. Refrain from criticizing, judging or belittling each others.

Dr Jimmie Lee and Pastor Lawanda Lee

Good Communication is vital! This requires REALLY listening to each other and understanding what the spouse is saying without making excuses our being defensive. Learn to engage in communication, paying attention to details, being observant, really listening while trying to understand each other, without fault finding.

Speak the truth in love, using calm voices and if needed take a time out. Think about the situation and try to see it from your spouse’s point of view. This will bring  understanding that can lead to resolution. Never take your spouse for grated. Most importantly, make your spouse and their happiness the priority of your life. 

What do you love about Tacoma? At the top of our LOVE TACOMA LIST is the cultural diversity, across the board in entertainment, recreation, shopping and eating opportunities including: Food trucks, small family owned specialty restaurants in neighborhood business districts, medium size eateries to large nationwide establishments that provide every cuisine imaginable without having to leave the city. We love being able to shop from farmer’s markets, local specialty shops, other larger stores in shopping districts and of course the Tacoma Mall. Everything we need is in here. Tacoma is small enough to foster a sense of community and belonging, and large enough to be self sufficient, meeting every need without having to leave the city.

The outdoor Tacoma environmental experiences are awesome from the scenic view of Mountain Rainer, the beautiful scenery and scent in spring and fall, the gorgeous views of downtown lite up in the evening, to the uplifting feeling one experiences on the waterfront and the many parks, lakes and beaches which are very well maintained throughout Tacoma. This  makes it the best place to live for enjoying the out doors and  recreation, after we have traveled throughout the world.

There is so much more to love about Tacoma including the Street Fairs, Markets and other events featuring local businesses, art galleries, entertainers, food and fun activities for the entire family.

Last, but by no means least, the educational opportunities for post high school education from vocational technical training, community college degrees, to higher education with UW leading the way provides our residents with quality education and career development.

What do you also love Weekly Volcano, and if so, why? Our recent introduction to the Weekly Volcano has left us very impressed, grateful and proud for the rebirth of the paper and the good presentation of news that is important for the citizens and businesses in Tacoma. This information is greatly needed and I look forward to the expansion of distribution and the inclusion of other topics of interest, especially information on social service resources and providers.

Relationship advice: Don't forget that the little things matter. The cup of coffee in the morning, the butt grab as you walk by, the simple "I love you" text in the middle of the day. Reminding each other that the other is on your mind. Everyone loves to be reminded they are loved.

Why we love Tacoma: Tacoma is a little big city. The six degrees of separation feel more like 3. In the small business world, we only hear of each other boosting each other. Bringing each other up. Encouraging patronage of each other's businesses. Which is the way it should be. We should all be here to build together. Build the love and destiny of our little big city. More and more you get the random smile from a stranger, or the moments compliment from a passer by. It's just like a relationship between two people. The little things matter, and Tacoma knows that.

Why we love The Volcano: So Happy it's back! The best print of info on all of the unique people, places and things to see and do in Tacoma. The positivity in print and online feels long gone, but the Volcano brings it back. The interwebs is full of so much negativity that it is honestly quite numbing. The Volcano gives you something interesting and a way to connect to your community by going out and seeing and doing. Not just online but through beautiful and inviting print. We love having it available at our bar.

Advice for new couples: It’s important to laugh. Even in dire times of trouble. No matter what the situation is, if you can joke about it, you’re going to be ok.

What do we love about Tacoma: We love that Tacoma is the biggest little city, so full of heart. We feel like everyone knows each other in some way or another thru art, music, food, and community gatherings. Not to mention how gorgeous Tacoma is. We are truly lucky.

Do we love the Weekly Volcano? A resounding heck YES!! We have lamented many a time about missing you. There never has been a good replacement for finding out about art, music, theatre, food, and community. We are so happy you are back and better than ever.

hope and vision, even though they sometimes are corrupt, pessimistic, failing, they nonetheless seem to always step forward at the fulcrum moments and stand as a community. And to stand with The People who have lived here in this paradise for thousands and thousands of years, who have seen it tragically reduced to a complex military-industrial-fossilfuel toxic waste dump, yet still live today with hope and vision for a better tomorrow, seven generations into the future, and welcome new arrivals in their homeland with open arms and forgiving hearts, thank you Puyallup Tribe of Indians for your hope, bravery and kindness. There is much to love about Tacoma, but foremost are the people, a melting pot of richness not easily found in a city so relatively small.

Our love for Tacoma is like the full moon – sometimes it shines bright, sometimes it is on the other side of the planet, sometimes we can’t see the moon at all and every now and then it is aligned to block much of the sun.

Do you also love Weekly Volcano, and if so, why? Yes, indeed! The Weekly Volcano is a woman-owned, local independent newspaper that benefits Tacoma with reliable and relevant information, holds local authorities and institutions accountable, exposes corruption, waste, and abuse of power. The Weekly Volcano is our main cultural hub and creates social cohesion and a sense of belonging by covering local events, issues, and stories that reflect the diversity and identity of the community and has a wonderful focus on the arts. Support of local businesses and economy by offering advertising options and promoting local products and services is another dual benefit. VIVA The Volcano!

What relationship advice do you have for new couples? Be bravely honest and thorough in defining what are your goals and lifestyle choices are,  i.e. children, religion, sexual limits/goals/fears/dreams, money, career, politics. Dreams and nightmares. Everything. Hold no grudges. Never use grievances or failures past in the rage of a current conflict. The past is gone and believe in the future. Assume the best of your soulmate.

What do you love about Tacoma? The mountains, the sea, the trees, the orcas, the salmon, the osprey, the crows. The peoples, the cultures, the arts, the crafts, the music, the words, the parks, the stores, the bars, the food (!). The history (albeit often sordid and awful), the heroes, the scramblers, the wanderers, the makers, the searchers, the givers, the prophets, the witches and the magi. It is the people of Tacoma that are the broadest spectrum of light,

What relationship advice do you have for new couples? Listen more than you talk. Communicate with each other about what you need from each other and what you love about each other.
Never ever argue with each other in public.  Be each others biggest cheer leaders. Always have open and honest conversations about the 2 things that kill relationships…money and sex.

What do you love about Tacoma? Our networking business has been based in the Tacoma area for years so what we love most are the relationships we have built with people within the Tacoma business community.

Do you also love Weekly Volcano, and if so, why? Yes!  Awesome way to stay connected to our community.