One of the earliest regrets in my book comes from someone who wished they'd simply taken things slower. They became too involved too quickly and later realized how much better things might have been had they allowed the relationship to develop naturally.

Think about it. When you're attracted to someone, there's nothing wrong with expressing interest, showing affection, or spending quality time together. That's what dating is all about! But declaring your undying love after only a handful of dates? That's another matter. One person in my book regretted saying "I love you" too soon, only to discover later that the relationship wasn't what they hoped it would be.

Physical intimacy can complicate things even further. Another regret involved sleeping with someone too soon when the person wished they'd waited until they knew each other better. The physical attraction may have been wonderful, but the emotional connection wasn't necessarily there. As one regret suggests, sometimes the better response is to enjoy a kiss, say goodnight, and allow the relationship a little more time to develop.

Then there's the regret of ignoring those little warning signals because everything else seems so exciting. Perhaps something about the person's behavior bothers you, or friends and family have noticed things you haven't. You explain it away because you're enjoying the romance and don't want anything to spoil it.

That's where people get themselves into trouble. Your heart may be racing, but your brain should still be paying attention!

Now, here's where some of the regrets in my book become especially interesting. One person regretted giving his girlfriend a key to his apartment. After receiving that key, she became increasingly controlling and possessive, questioned his whereabouts, and entered his home when he wasn't there. Suddenly, what seemed like a romantic gesture turned into a situation that made him uncomfortable in his own home.

He found himself wondering how to ask for the key back without making it seem like the relationship was over.

Imagine that! A simple decision made during the excitement of dating created a problem he never anticipated.

Moving in together too soon is another regret that appears in the book. One person felt that living together prematurely took away some of the magic they'd been developing during their early months of dating. Another wished they'd continued living separately and enjoying visits and occasional nights together until they were more certain about their future.

Of course, living together can work beautifully for many couples. The important thing is to make that decision because you're genuinely ready—not simply because you're tired of driving back and forth to each other's homes!

And while we're discussing moving in together, let's talk about MONEY!

One particularly costly regret involved a woman who moved in with her boyfriend and placed the rent, utilities, deposits, and other financial responsibilities in her name because he had poor credit. When the relationship ended, he walked away, leaving her responsible for the bills. As she discovered, sharing a home without clearly discussing financial responsibilities can be a very expensive mistake.

Before combining households, couples should discuss who pays for what, how expenses will be divided, whose names appear on agreements, and what happens if the relationship ends. These aren't necessarily romantic conversations, but they're important ones. Love may be blind, but your bank account shouldn't be!

One of the simplest and most revealing regrets in my book concerns marrying someone too quickly. The person wished they'd taken more time to discover whether their partner was truly right for them. Another regret involved falling in love before discussing any real plans for the future.

That's worth thinking about. Before making a lifelong commitment, do you both want the same things? Have you discussed children, money, careers, lifestyles, family responsibilities, and where you want to live? Are your values reasonably compatible? How do you handle disagreements?

These conversations are much easier to have before making major commitments than afterward, when your lives, finances, and families may already be intertwined. A wedding ceremony can be beautiful. The celebration can be unforgettable. But the real relationship begins when the decorations come down and the two of you return to everyday life together. That's when knowing whom you've married becomes considerably more important than how wonderful the wedding was.