When most people think of romance, they envision classic romantic movies or lovers declaring their feelings in over-the-top ways. Actually, real old-fashioned romance doesn't have anything to do with this, and adding small, subtle, romantic acts to your relationship is, in reality, very easy to do. And you'll be amazed at how adding just a bit of romance into the mix will improve your relationship exponentially.

Real romance is patient, subtle, and anything but over-the-top, which is why it isn't glorified or highlighted in modern media or pop culture. While the hero of your favorite romantic movie may do some extraordinary things to show his special someone how he feels, the truth about romantic acts is that the more flamboyant they are, the less they are to actually inspire real, long-lasting love.

Instead, think of the many patient, durable ways that the most successful couples reinforce their love. Bringing your lover a truckload of flowers on an anniversary day may be romantic, but even more romantic is bringing them one flower a week for the rest of your life. While these extravagant ways of showing you love are fine every now and then, they don't make a relationship romantic and, in some ways, might even hurt a relationship.

Believe it or not, there are plenty of people who feel that over-the-top acts such as asking someone to marry you on national television is anything but romantic. For these kind of people, real romance is subtle and not to be broadcasted to the rest of the world. I fact, many times, if someone is trying to make sure as many people as possible know about his romantic act, he is probably more interested in showing off than actually developing a healthy relationship.

True romance isn't something that you keep score on or track to see when the last time your lover wrote a poem or brought you flowers. The most romantic acts occur over a prolonged period of time, months or years, rather than in one afternoon or all at once. Being dedicated to a relationship, being patient and understanding and committed, is in reality the most romantic act of all.

That's not to say that there's no place for exciting, occasional acts of showing your special someone what they mean to you. If you want to surprise your sweetheart with flowers or an expensive gift, then by all means do so. But don't think that one grand act can take the place of a lifetime of patience and understanding, because that's what true romance is really all about.