In July 1983, Robert James Waller gave a commencement speech at the University of Northern Iowa. He spoke about being a romantic and how easy it is to drive romance away. But he followed with "suggestions for keeping romance around you or getting her back if she has flown". They are simple and natural ways to nurture one's self and I wish to remember them.

• Read some poetry every day. Set a new schedule for yourself and do your reading then.
• Sometime in your life, build your own house or at least the most intimate parts of it.
• Collect little things...
• Play a musical instrument.
• Travel is good for romance. But don't just travel; travel.
• Keep good journals of your life and travels.

It is very easy to lose sight of such things in our busy lives, with everything and everybody moving so quickly. There needs to be time or time needs to be made for the slow, quiet and maybe even unfashionable activities that can rejuvenate and inspire the spirit.

I like the way Waller puts it, "In a sense, romance is practical. It fuels your life and propels your work with a sense of vision, hope and caring."