The classic knight-in-shining-armor story can make for a fun diversion occasionally, but prevailing wisdom has for the most part left old-fashioned romance for dead; a charming but absurd remnant of times when people were less worldly and more gullible.

Real Romance is Subtle, Not Flashy

But is real, lasting romance truly dead in the modern world, or has a cynical pop culture just made us all think that romantic relationships are on the decline? Here’s a newsflash that thousands of couples who are in a long-term, monogamous relationship have already figured out: old-fashioned romance is as present today as it ever has been… and the theatrical, melodramatic type of romance you see in movies and read about in books never really existed in the first place.

That’s not to say that romance isn’t a very real, very powerful force that can open up amazing new avenues of contentment for couples. But the real power of old-fashioned romance has always been in its subtlety and consistency… not in the ridiculous, over-the-top gestures that pop culture wants you to think constitutes being romantic.

In fact, the very reason that some people think old-fashioned romance is dead — because they just don’t see it around them all the time — stems from the fact that real romance, by its nature, is a very private, very unpublicized affair. And ironically, the flashy, truckload-of-roses type of romantic gestures that modern media wrongly promotes as yesterday’s norm is exactly the type of stuff that can quickly lead to the end of a relationship if you depend too much on it.

Are You Trying to Promote Your Relationship… Or Yourself?

Don’t get me wrong; dramatic productions that declare your love for another person can be wonderful. But anyone who thinks that proposing to someone on live television will produce an unbreakable relationship is sorely mistaken. Bringing your sweetheart a truckload of flowers on one special day is fine, but real old-fashioned romance is better illustrated by bringing them one flower once a week for the rest of your life.

Thanks to the in-your-face, self-indulgent nature of today’s diverse media, a whole new generation has……

Related articles:

1. Romance For Men: Following The Platinum Rule For A Better Relationship
2. How to Use Modern Technology to Add Old-Fashioned Romance to Your Relationship
3. How to Spice Up Your Sex Life and Save Your Relationship
4. Tips For A Lasting Relationship
5. How to Spice Up Your Sex Life and Save Your Relationship (Video)

Many of these folks are our Top Commentators, frequent visitors, and members of our MyBlogLog community. Thank you.

Top commentators are always featured in the right nav bar on AskDanAndJennifer.com, and every couple of weeks we’ll make the rounds and feature some of their hottest stories here, for your viewing enjoyment.

Yes, this is another gem from the playbook of everyone’s favorite dot-com mogul and rising Internet celebrity John Chow - and it’s an excellent idea at that! 

Don’t forget to… take on the Pro Blogger Challenge: Review AskDanAndJennifer and We’ll Review Your Blog – Just to One-Up John Chow!

Today we’re showing some appreciation and sharing a little link love.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s hot and fresh off the presses…

• Ask Dan and Jennifer: a great relationship blog – by – Phil Van Treuren :: Romance Tracker
  * This article was a great surprise from Phil, and we really enjoyed reading it. Go check it out!

• Relationship Trouble? Just Ask Dan and Jennifer - by – Nneka Kelly :: The Balanced Life Center
  * Yeah, we’re biased, but we can’t help it, this is just a great article! Must Read.

• What to Do When You Have No Money – by – Scott Davis :: Finding Your Marbles  

• The Top Ten Hottest Moms in Search Engine Marketing – by – eMom Wendy Piersall

• My Obsessive Thoughts – Blog Tag – by – Jeff Kee

• The Debate About The Secret - by - Thea Westra :: Leaders Are Readers 

• JohnChow.com Review – The Verdict - by - Allen Heat: AlleNation

• Get Sexy Cat Eyes - by - Aniela :: Style Tips 101 
• The secret of the secret admirer - by - Kat Wilder  

Thanks guys, come back often. We’ll leave the light on for ya’!

And remember to take on the Pro Blogger Challenge if you’ve got what it takes…

Related articles:

1. Thank You to Our Readers, Commentators, and Friends – Week 2
2. Thank You to Our Readers, Commentators, and Friends
3. Pro Blogger Challenge: Review AskDanAndJennifer.com and We’ll Review Your Blog
4. Bloggers Face-Off – AskDanAndJennifer vs. MomGadget
5. Featuring Jeff Kee – The Miscellaneous Ramblings of a Dot Com Entrepreneur