-
The Benefit of the Doubt
Courtesy of Pixabay via Pexels The image of a pebble dropped into a still pond is a powerful one for many people. It is a visual representation of the idea that one small act can have a “ripple effect.” It can spread out and be carried across the water of our life and the lives of those around us further than we may perceive. Giving the benefit of the doubt can be that pebble in your relationship with your spouse.
-
The Kindness Challenge
We recently read Shaunti Feldhahn’s book, The Kindness Challenge, and loved it. I value kindness in myself and long to see this virtue once again be a standard in our society. She drives home the point that practicing kindness not only makes you a kinder person, but also opens your eyes to the kindness around you. It can create a positive spiral in any relationship, in your home, the workplace, your community and dare we say it — in our world!
-
Marriage is a Minefield
We walked into marriage blissfully unaware of any danger. Although we did get advice from more seasoned couples, nobody warned us that marriage is a minefield. Careless Early Explosions Jen: When we had only been married for about three years, we stepped on one of our first big landmines. It started out as a conversation about balancing the checkbook. We took turns with this task and looking at our finances so we both could see how our money was spent, but our perspectives were different. Nick was the main breadwinner while I was the main caretaker at home. Our different responsibilities made us biased to our own perspectives. Instead of…
-
Keeping Your Marriage Sane While Quarantined
Jen: Being quarantined and trying to limit your exposure to others is one thing and having kids at home adds another dimension. So many parents are trying to make a living and unexpectedly take care of their kids at home at the same time. No matter what your situation is, being quarantined at home can add stresses on your couple relationship that you haven’t experienced before.
-
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers 💐
There’s an old Barbara Streisand / Neil Diamond song “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” that sometimes hops to mind when we’re in a rough patch or we see other couples we know in a rough spot. Who would know how much a simple gift can impact your relationship as a couple? But beware! Even bringing flowers home can be more complicated than you’d expect.
-
Will It Matter Tomorrow?
Will it matter tomorrow . . . if the avocados were too firm to slice for salad tonight? Will it matter tomorrow if the dishwasher wasn’t loaded the way you load it? What if a favorite cotton sweater got dried on high heat with the bath towels? Will it matter tomorrow?