10,000 Ways to Say I Love You: 10th Anniversary Edition

Copyright © 1999, 2009 by Gregory J.P. Godek

Cover and internal design © 1999, 2009 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor in this book.

• 1001 Ways To Be Romantic® is a federally registered trademark of Gregory J.P. Godek.

Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.

P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

(630) 961-3900

Fax: (630) 961-2168

www.sourcebooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Godek, Gregory J. P.

  10,000 ways to say I love you : 10th anniversary edition / by Gregory J. P. Godek. — 2nd ed.

     p. cm.

  Includes bibliographical references and index.

  1. Love—Miscellanea. 2. Intimacy (Psychology)—Miscellanea. I. Title. II. Title: Ten thousand ways to say I love you.

  BF575.L8G63 2009

  306.7—dc22

2009030712

DEDICATION

Thomas Valentine Godek (#904)

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

10000 Ways to Say I Love You

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Love & Tenderness

Ways to Love a Taurus (21 April–21 May)

Favorite Love Songs from 1931

Questions for Women (That Men Desperately Want to Know the Answers To)

Commitments That Will Improve Your Relationship

Yoga Retreats Recommended for Couples

Quirky Questions to Help Couples Get Inside Each Other’s Heads (and Hearts)

Miscellaneous Skills Lovers Need to Know

Favorite Love Songs from 1932

Kinds of Romantic Surprises

Favorite Love Songs from 1933

Ways to a Man’s Heart

Ways to Woo Workaholics Away from Work

Favorite Love Songs from 1934

Questions for Men (That Women Desperately Want to Know the Answers To)

Things to Never, Never, Never Do While Making Love

Favorite Love Songs from 1935

Bits of Ancient Wisdom for Modern Lovers

Relationship Concepts Based on Your Sense of Taste

Romantic Countries to Visit

Questions About Eroticism That Every Couple Should Discuss

Questions to Ask Yourself About Yourself

Ways to Love a Gemini (22 May–21 June)

Sensuality Enhancers

Favorite Spots to Take a Fishing Fanatic

Favorite Love Songs from 1936

Romantic Advice from A to Z

Outrageous Places to Make Love

Love Songs That Put Women on a Pedestal

Best Love Songs by Lionel Richie

Relationship Dos and Don’ts

Time-Saving Tips for Lovers

Little Touches That Can Make a Big Difference

Most Important Relationship Issues Ranked in Order—by Readers of Marriage Magazine

1432–1832 401 Namesake Towns Across America

Ways for Guys to Stun Their Gals with Romance

Ways for Business Executives to Earn Romantic Dividends

Best Love Songs by Elvis Presley

Favorite Love Songs from 1937

Film Festivals to Attend with Your Movie Buff

Ways to Turn a Simple Bubblebath into a Memorable Romantic Event

Ways to Drive Your Lover Crazy

Best Love Songs by Chicago (and/or Peter Cetera)

Favorite Love Songs from 1938

Exercises for Tapping into Your Creativity

Relationship Experiments to Try

366 Things to Celebrate—Every Day of the Year Is Special!

Great Beaches of the World

Favorite Love Songs from 1939

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Intense Love & Infatuation

Ways to Love a Cancer (22 June–22 July)

Unusual-But-Romantic Places to Have a Memorable Dinner Together

Characteristics of a True Romantic

Hit Songs with Love in Their Titles

The 12 Birthstones—and Their Meanings

Unusual Gift Tips for Lovers

Ways to Take Care of the One You Love

Fun/Whimsical Love Songs

Most Romantic Movies of All Time

Top Love Song Duets

Favorite Love Songs from 1940

Most Romantic Spots in America

Tips for Married Men

Favorite Love Songs from 1941

Rules for Fighting Fair

12 Things Lovers Can Do—If They Try

Things That Come in Twos—Ideas for Couples

Items for a Lifetime Romantic Checklist

Favorite Love Songs from 1942

Favorite Love Songs from 1943

Favorite Love Songs from 1944

Most Romantic Country Songs of All Time

Ways to Love a Leo (23 July –23 August)

Recommended Anniversary Gifts

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th

15th

16th

17th

18th

19th

20th

21st

22nd

23rd

24th

25th

26th

27th

28th

29th

30th

31st

32nd

33rd

34th

35th

36th

37th

38th

39th

40th

41st

42nd

43rd

44th

45th

46th

47th

48th

49th

50th

51st

52nd

53rd

54th

55th

56th

57th

58th

59th

60th

61st

62nd

63th

64th

65th

67th

68th

69th

70th

71st

72nd

73rd

74th

75th

Favorite Love Songs from 1945

9 Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Desire & Sexual Attraction

Favorite Love Songs from 1946

An A to Z List to Inspire Your Love

Lists for Lovers

Ways to Earn Your MBA (Masters of Bedroom Amore)

Ways to Put the Zing Back in Your Relationship

Romantic Movies Starring the All-Time Great Romantic Couples

Quirky Questions That Open a Window into Your Lover’s Personality

Sexy Tips—For Gals Only

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: New Love

Favorite Love Songs from 1947

Love Songs Recorded by Frank Sinatra

Favorite Love Songs from 1948

7 Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Suggestive

Favorite Love Songs from 1949

Reasonable and Unreasonable Expectations for Couples

Ways to Love a Virgo (24 August–23 September)

Ways to Affair-Proof Your Relationship

Places to Take Your Water-Loving Lover Snorkeling

Great Date Movies

Favorite Love Songs from 1950

Relationship Skills to Master If You Want an A+ Relationship

Favorite Love Songs from 1951

Classic Love Songs

Love Tips for Parents

Favorite Love Songs from 1952

Dos and Don’ts of Sexual Fantasies

Best Love Songs by The Beatles

Your 3 Resources for Expressing Love

Favorite Love Songs from 1953

Ways to Really Be a Couple in Public

Ways to Take Care of His Heart

Listening Skills for Lovers

Qualities That 5,000 Women Want Most in Husbands

Romantic Tips for Guys Only

Favorite Love Songs from 1954

Fun & Quirky Ways to Get to Know Each Other Better

The 12 Birthflowers—and Their Symbolic Meanings

Things You Should Know About Your Partner

Favorite Love Songs from 1955

Best Love Songs by Diana Ross & The Supremes

The Most Romantic Broadway Musicals of All Time

Sexy Games for Lovers to Play

Ways to Love a Libra (24 September–23 October)

Funniest (Yet True!) Things Ever Said About Love

Favorite Love Songs from 1956

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Loneliness & Missing You

Ways to Overdo It for Your Lover

Ways to Get It by Mail

Favorite Love Songs from 1957

His Name in a Song: 12 Hits Named for Guys

His and Hers Ideas

Favorite Love Songs from 1958

Red Hot Books to Set Your Sex Life Ablaze

Insights About Arguing

Favorite Love Songs from 1959

The 12 Star Signs of the Zodiac and Their Basic Personality Traits

Qualities That 5,000 Men Dislike Most in Wives

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Anniversaries & Celebrations

Favorite Love Songs from 1960

Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Favorite Love Songs from 1961

Ways to Love a Scorpio (24 October–22 November)

Best Ski Resorts Skiing: The only relationship activity where it’s acceptable to go downhill

Best Love Songs by Celine Dion

Love Tips for Business Executives

Favorite Love Songs from 1962

Ways to Turn a C- Relationship into an A+ Relationship

Different Ways of Viewing Romance

Favorite Love Songs from 1963

Gift Ideas for 23 Different Kinds of Fanatics

Ways to Move from Practical to Elegant

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Devotion & Commitment

Relationship Questions (For Married Couples Only)

Ways to Use the Heart Shape

Favorite Love Songs from 1964

CDs of Instrumental Music Hand-Picked for Romantic Evenings

Proverbs of Love from Around the World

Photo Fantasies for Lovers

Questions to Determine Your Sex Style

Visual Puns to Use in Love Notes

Favorite Love Songs from 1965

17 Books on Marriage

Ways to Give Money As a Gift in a Creative Way

Favorite Love Songs from 1966

Ways to Love a Sagittarius (23 November–21 December)

Romantic Things to Do in Small Spaces

Favorite Love Songs from 1967

States with Romantic and Curious Town Names

The Dirty Dozen—Relationship Killers to Watch Out For

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Longing/Yearning

Items for a Weekly Romantic Checklist

Favorite Love Songs from 1968

Quotable Quotes on Love

Important Questions for Engaged Couples

America is a very romantic place: Here’s how to get vacation info:

Favorite Love Songs from 1969

Romantically Wet Things to Do

Favorite Love Songs from 1970

Love Quotes from Shakespeare

Questions About Your Beliefs (That Reveal a Lot About You)

Favorite Love Songs from 1971

Ways to Love a Capricorn

Reminders for Wise Lovers

Relationship Myths Masquerading as Truth

Favorite Love Songs from 1972

Items for a Daily Romantic Checklist

Ways to (Literally) Say I Love You

Favorite Love Songs from 1973

Customized Gifts for Lovers

Books About Women, For Women, By women

Best Romantic Comedies

The 10 Commandments for Loving Couples

Favorite Love Songs from 1974

Ways to Love an Aquarius (21 January–18 February)

On Birthdays

Favorite Love Songs from 1975

Kinds of Gifts to Give Your Guy or Gal

Questions About Life & Love (That Reveal a Lot About You)

The Most Romantic Movie Soundtracks

Gemstones and Their Symbolic Meanings

Favorite Love Songs from 1976

Questions We Dare You to Discuss With Your Partner!

A to Z Romantic Gifts

Travel Websites to Help You Plan a Romantic Vacation

Favorite Love Songs from 1977

Bits of Advice from Happy Couples

Favorite Love Songs from 1978

Best Love Songs by Stevie Wonder

Things to Thank Your Partner For

Favorite Love Songs from 1979

Questions to Spark Your Sex Life

Creativity Enhancers to Help You

Best Love Songs by Mariah Carey

Favorite Love Songs from 1980

Couple Questions to Discuss with Your Partner

Things About You That Your Partner Would Love to Know

Her Name in a Song: Hits Named for Gals

Ways to Love a Pisces (19 February–19 March)

Favorite Love Songs from 1981

Technological Tools for Saying in Touch

Ways to Put the Sizzle Back into Your Relationship

Favorite Love Songs from 1982

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Friendship & Appreciation

Greatest Love Songs from Broadway Musicals

Favorite Love Songs from 1983

Items for a Monthly Romantic Checklist

If You Read Only Seven Books to Improve Your Relationship, Read These Seven

Creative Ways to Pop the Question

Favorite Love Songs from 1984

More Relationship Dos and Don’ts

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Love & Joy

Favorite Love Songs from 1985

Romantic Resources on the Internet

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Gentle & Sweet

30 Years of Celebrity Birth-Years

Favorite Love Songs from 1986

Creativity Blockers to Beware Of

Qualities That 5,000 Women Dislike Most in Husbands

Websites for Romantic Gifts/Ideas/Inspirations

Best Love Songs by Rod Stewart

Favorite Love Songs from 1987

Favorite Love Songs from 1988

12 Months’ Notes from a Romantic’s Planning Calendar

Naughty Books for Adventurous Couples

Favorite Love Songs from 1989

The Best Love Songs of All Time

7 Romance Coupons for a Week of Love

Favorite Love Songs from 1990

Underwater Wonders of the World in Range of Snorkelers

Either-Or Questions (That Reveal A Lot About You)

10 Ways to Love an Aries (20 March–20 April)

Favorite Love Songs from 1991

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Falling in Love

Ways to Learn More About Your Lover

Favorite Love Songs from 1992

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Adoration

Reasons to Be Romantic

Favorite Love Songs from 1993

Breathtaking-But-Smaller Waterfalls in America

Items for a Yearly Romantic Checklist

Favorite Love Songs from 1994

4 Aspects of Love—Based on the Ancient 4 Elements

Top Public Golf Courses

Favorite Love Songs from 1995

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Forgive Me/Don’t Leave Me!

Favorite Love Songs from 1996

Ways for Women to Get Men to Be Romantic

Sexy Ways to Celebrate the Holidays

Books About Men, For Men, By Men

Favorite Love Songs from 1997

Love Codes for Lovers

Best Love Songs by The Four Tops

Favorite Love Songs from 1998

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings: Hot Passion

Best Love Songs by Marvin Gaye

Favorite Love Songs from 1999

Favorite Love Songs from 2000

Favorite Love Songs from 2001

Favorite Love Songs from 2002

Favorite Love Songs from 2003

Favorite Love Songs from 2004

Favorite Love Songs from 2005

Favorite Love Songs from 2006

Favorite Love Songs from 2007

Qualities that 5,000 Men Want Most in Wives

Favorite Love Songs from 2008

Pairs of Gender Generalizations:

Favorite Love Songs from 2009

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Tracey Ellen Godek

Jean Ann Mancuso-Godek

Barbara Jane Godek

Bonnie Whitman

Mara Scribner

Craig Schreiber

Mary Marcell

Celine Dion

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

INTRODUCTION

No one in the history of the world has ever attempted to gather a list of 10,000 ways to express love. I’ve learned that 10,000 is a really, really big number. At one idea per day, this book will last you 27.4 years!

The questions I get asked most often about my books are How? How long? and Why?

How? How do you gather 10,000 ways to say ‘I love you’? I can’t even think of ten! The most important factor is what I call having a romantic mind-set. It’s a way of looking at the world and filtering information—and that filter is love. Another important factor is my sophisticated filing system for keeping track of the scraps of paper and napkins that I use to capture ideas as they leap from my brain—plus a high-powered laptop.

How long? How long does it take you to write your books? This book took only three months to write. But it’s taken forty-three years to research.

"Why? Why would you write 10,000 Ways to Say I Love You? Do we really need 10,000 ways? Aren’t you getting a wee bit obsessed?" Of course I’m obsessed. Teachers and artists are always obsessed by their topics. And yes, we really do need 10,000 ways. Every idea doesn’t fit for every person. And as to why: Because people (thousands of people) continually ask me for ideas, suggestions, and tips. This book is the ultimate practical resource for couples. It contains the basics of romance, the essence of expressing love, creative twists on classic ideas, concepts you probably never thought of, and resources gathered from one thousand sources.

Since the first edition came out, we’ve been given the iPod, Facebook, Twitter, and countless other tools we can use to express affection. Why not take advantage of all of them? This 10th anniversary edition celebrates all the romance that readers have brought into their lives in the last decade using the ideas here, and gives those fans new ideas and new ways to say, I love you.

More answers to the question Why 10,000? Because it’s a big number. Because people are fascinated by numbers. And, by combining the concept of love with the concept of numbers, you start to get a feeling for how big love is, how big love can be. Actually, love is infinite. And as far as I’m concerned, 10,000 ways to say I love you is just the beginning.

~Gregory J.P. Godek

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

Songs to Help You Express Your Feelings:

Love & Tenderness

---------------

---------------

Ways to Love a Taurus (21 April–21 May)

---------------

---------------

Favorite Love Songs from 1931

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

---------------

Questions for Women (That Men Desperately Want to Know the Answers To)

Communication works (Once you’re a couple, being coy usually backfires)

---------------

---------------

Commitments That Will

Improve Your Relationship

---------------

---------------