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Canberra Today 12°/15° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Summer love, is it like no other love?

“Summer loving had me a blast,

Summer loving happened so fast,

I met a girl crazy for me,

Met a boy cute as can be…”

THE romantic cities of Europe, the excitement of a beach holiday or going on a cruise, where the stress of day-to-day life is abandoned for fun and excitement, are all key ingredients to a summer romance.

“On holidays, people tend to be more relaxed, they tend to chat more with others and do things that you wouldn’t necessarily do at home,” says psychologist Dr Vivienne Lewis.
“On holidays, people tend to be more relaxed, they tend to chat more with others and do things that they wouldn’t necessarily do at home,” says psychologist Dr Vivienne Lewis.
“When you are on holidays, people tend to be more relaxed, they tend to chat more with others and do things that they wouldn’t necessarily do at home,” says Dr Vivienne Lewis, clinical psychologist from the University of Canberra.

“There’s a certain amount of anonymity about meeting someone away from home and there isn’t the pressure that goes with meeting someone in Canberra.

“Some younger people go out deliberately looking for summer romances and with no expectation that they will result in anything long term, it takes the pressure off.”

Vivienne says that when people meet on holidays, their relationship is sped up and intensified.

Penny Coulter, manager of Counselling Services at Relationships Australia, agrees that in summer romances people can be swept away from the world and swept away with each other.

“Discovering the world together can bring people closer together,” says Penny.

“Summer romance is a time of fun and discovery, and connecting with a person in a moment in time,” she says.

But the big question; can summer romance last?

“To avoid heartbreak, keep an open mind and talk about your expectations so you are on the same page with your partner,” says Penny.

“It doesn’t matter how you met, it gets down to respect and keeping a safe and healthy relationship,” she says.

Discuss if you would like to stay in contact with your partner and if so, when you are back home, keep communication up and put the effort in, recommends Vivienne.

“A few of my clients have met people on holidays and kept in contact and their partner later moved to Canberra, so you do hear of that working out!” she says.

To help manage disappointment when your summer romance is over, Penny advises people to turn to friends and family for extra support. And if things are getting you down and you aren’t moving past it, consider talking to a counsellor about your feelings.

And for those feeling shy or self conscious, Vivienne says to remember that summer is about having fun.

“The advice I give my clients is do you want to look back on your holiday and all the fun and social times you had, or remember it for feeling self conscious?” she says.

“We are all different sizes and shapes, and people are paying far less attention to your body than you think. It’s not such a big deal so go to the pool or barbecue and enjoy!”

 

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Kate Meikle

Kate Meikle

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