每天亲吻六秒可能有助于改善关系

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
来自美国之音学习英语节目，这是健康与生活方式报道。

After 13 years of marriage, Bethany Meola admits that she and her husband can get caught up in their busy lives. They are raising three children and they both have careers.
在13年的婚姻之后，贝瑟尼·米欧拉承认她和她的丈夫可能会被忙碌的生活困住。他们抚养着三个孩子，并且两人都有自己的事业。

So, they make sure to take time every day for a six-second kiss.
因此，他们每天都会确保花时间进行一个六秒钟的亲吻。

The six-second kiss is a daily exercise suggested by couples therapists John and Julie Gottman. It is as simple as it sounds. They say taking time each day for a six-second kiss can help connect you physically and emotionally with your partner.
六秒钟亲吻是夫妻治疗师约翰和朱莉·戈特曼建议的日常练习。这听起来就像它的名字一样简单。他们说，每天花时间进行一个六秒钟的亲吻可以帮助你与伴侣在身体和情感上建立联系。

“It's kind of a funny thing to put on the to-do list,” Meola said. She first learned of the exercise while studying for a master's degree that centered on marriage and family.
“把它放在待办事项清单上有点有趣，”米欧拉说。她第一次了解到这个练习是在攻读以婚姻和家庭为中心的硕士学位时。

It made a difference, Meola said. “It's long enough to kind of ground you and say, ‘Here's this other person that I love, that I've committed to.'”
米欧拉说，它确实有所不同。“这个时间足够长，让你重新回到现实，并告诉自己‘这是我爱的人，这是我承诺要一起走过的人。’”

Why does six seconds matter?
为什么六秒钟很重要？

Married in 1987, Julie and John Gottman co-founded the Gottman Institute to teach couples therapy. John Gottman also wrote The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work and other books.
1987年结婚的朱莉和约翰·戈特曼共同创立了戈特曼研究所，教授夫妻治疗课程。约翰·戈特曼还撰写了《让婚姻运转的七项原则》和其他书籍。

John Gottman told the Associated Press that six seconds is not just a number. It comes from studying more than 3,000 couples over 30 years. The Gottmans found that a six-second kiss is enough to help release oxytocin.
约翰·戈特曼告诉美联社，六秒钟不仅仅是一个数字。它源自对3000多对夫妇长达30年的研究。戈特曼夫妇发现，六秒钟的亲吻足以帮助释放催产素。

Oxytocin is a natural substance that is produced by the body. The substance is widely believed to help a mother connect with her newborn baby. The Gottmans say it also builds trust in a relationship by calming down the fear center of the brain. They also used research by neuro-economist Paul Zak. Zak suggests that a 20-second hug creates the same results.
催产素是一种由身体产生的天然物质。广泛认为这种物质有助于母亲与新生儿建立联系。戈特曼夫妇表示，它还能通过平息大脑的恐惧中心来建立关系中的信任。他们还借用了神经经济学家保罗·扎克的研究。扎克认为，20秒的拥抱也能产生同样的效果。

“For the 20-second hug or the six-second kiss, it's one that really feels different. It feels like you've come home,” John Gottman said.
“无论是20秒的拥抱还是6秒的亲吻，它们真的给人一种不同的感觉。感觉就像回到了家，”约翰·戈特曼说。

Julie Gottman said a long kiss works best for couples who are committed to each other and who trust each other. Couples who are working through personal or marital issues might not be ready for it.
朱莉·戈特曼说，长时间的亲吻最适合那些彼此承诺并信任的夫妻。正在处理个人或婚姻问题的夫妻可能还没有准备好进行这种亲吻。

How to start
如何开始

But how do you start this type of exercise? Couples have to decide to take time out of their day to put their relationship first. One partner might open the discussion by saying they believe the exercise could bring them closer and it is worth a try.
但如何开始这种练习呢？夫妻需要决定每天抽出时间优先考虑他们的关系。一方可能会通过说他们相信这个练习可以使他们更加亲密，并且值得一试来开启讨论。

The experts suggest creating a ritual. For example, set aside the same time every day when both are about to leave for work or just before bedtime.
专家建议建立一个仪式。例如，每天在两人即将去工作或临睡前的相同时间抽出时间进行。

Creating a ritual prevents a relationship from becoming one in which the only thing a couple does together is add things "to their very long list of tasks,” John Gottman said. “We want to really nurture the romance.”
“建立一个仪式可以防止关系变成那种夫妻在一起只是在‘很长的任务清单上’添加事项的关系，”约翰·戈特曼说。“我们真的想要培养浪漫。”

Rituals also create a shared sense of purpose, Julie Gottman said. However, she reminds people to enjoy it. Do not think of it as something you are supposed to do.
仪式还会创造一种共同的目的感，朱莉·戈特曼说。不过，她提醒人们要享受这个过程。不要把它当作你必须要做的事情。

And to the couples who say they cannot find the time? She is direct and honest.
对于那些说他们找不到时间的夫妻呢？她的回应直接而诚实。

“You really don't have six seconds? You know, we're not talking six hours here. We're talking six seconds," she said with a laugh.
“你们真的没有六秒钟吗？你知道的，我们说的不是六小时。我们说的是六秒钟，”她笑着说。