-
Emotional Baggage
Chris: Recently, while returning home from a trip, the wheel of our suitcase broke. It was the last leg of the trip and both of us looked at our suitcase like it had failed us in some way. We were tired from traveling all day and the last thing we wanted to do was have to switch back and forth, carrying a broken suitcase through the airport. So, in that moment, the easiest thing to do was to blame the suitcase for being faulty. We both had convinced ourselves that it was a bad suitcase and how could the company put out something so awful. Never mind that we had…
-
Opposites Attract
Michelle: I love watching Dancing with the Stars. Chris: I love watching Ghost Hunters and I hate that I know the pros, past and present, who have been on Dancing with the Stars. Michelle: One of the pros, Mark Ballas, sings with his wife when he is not performing or rehearsing for a Tuesday night show. Chris: One afternoon, Michelle sent me the song, Highs and Lows, by Alexander Jean (the band formed by Mark Ballas and his wife Brittney Jean). Michelle sent it with a text that read, “This is so us.” Michelle: I remember as a child, hearing that opposites attract and being confused by the concept. My…
-
What Was Your Success Today?
Michelle: When I was younger, I loved watching the Summer Olympics. I especially remember watching the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There are two reasons that specific Olympics reigns supreme in my memories. The first reason is that my grandparents lived in Los Angeles and they had tickets to many of the track and field events. While my grandparents brought back some Olympic pins as souvenirs, it was my grandfather’s reverence when telling us about President Ronald Reagan opening the Olympic Games and my grandmother’s stories of all of the amazing athletes they saw from countries all over the world, that pulled me in. But my second reason…
-
Love Goals
Chris: They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We would say that the road to an unfulfilling relationship, may be paved with those same intentions. Does this sound familiar? You intend to be romantic, caring, sexy or fun but, you’re too tired, you come home late from work or you just simply forget. Is it because you’re thoughtless, because you care more about your job or because you have the romantic aptitude of a sponge? Maybe, but it is more likely that you are human, with good intentions. Michelle: But intentions are never really enough. I have ADHD. I can have a really great idea to…
-
Positively Live
Chris: I am a realist. I believe there are good and bad people. My wife is an optimist. She believes there are good people and good people who just make bad choices. Sometimes, her positivity causes me to worry, thinking that her naive outlook will get her hurt. Other times, her positivity is contagious. Here is how she tames my negativity and balances us out as a couple. Michelle: I think there are several easy ways to stay positive. I use the acronym LIVE every day and in every situation to remember to approach with positivity. L is for LOVE. Whether the situation is with Chris, a coworker or a…
-
Go Anywhere, Do Anything
Chris: Over Memorial Day weekend, Michelle and I went wheeling in Moab, Utah, earning some Jeep badges along the way. We realized that some of the best off-road advice can be applied to our marriage. Here is our top five. Michelle: Number Five-Things will get gnarly. Moab is known for some of the best and trickiest off-road trails. But things can go from a calm day in nature to gnarly, real quick. We have learned that the same is true in our relationship. We have had a lot of smooth adventures in our marriage. But the true test of us comes from how we pull together when life does not…
-
The Grace of Healing
Chris: Recently, Michelle’s boss gave her a surprise day off work. Michelle assumed, that because I work from home, I would be willing to drop what I was doing and, in her words, “go on a fun road trip together”. When Michelle presented me with the idea, her enthusiasm and excitement frustrated me. I was so annoyed about her, “fun adventure” that after she finished saying what we could do, I crossed my arms and snapped, “Oh sure Michelle. My work is insignificant. Let me drop everything I have planned today so that I can cater to your whims.” Unfortunately, I did not stop there. I decided in that moment,…
-
Easter Blessings:
We at The Couples Post, want to wish all of our readers, a very Happy and Blessed Easter to you and your family!
-
Practice What You Preach
Michelle: One day our daughter Taryn came home from school and said, “The word practice is really confusing.” It can mean to work at something to gain skill, like when I practice my different tumbling passes at cheer. But it can also mean to be a professional at something. Like a doctor has a medical practice.” Chris: Taryn’s confusion about the word ‘practice’ really made me think. I responded, “It can also mean to carry out or do something-like practice what you preach.” Why is it important to practice what we preach? People should be attracted by our light in the way we live and in the words we speak. …
-
Don’t Forget to Laugh
Michelle: Isn’t it refreshing to think that something as simple as laughter can support your marriage and help it thrive? Here are some tips for bringing a dose of laughter into your relationship. Tip 1: Look for accidentally funny moments. One evening our daughter told us that her driver’s ed teacher was mean because he laughed at her during class. Taryn: My teacher asked if driving is a difficult and thought-provoking task? I said that driving is pretty simple because you just put the prindle in D and go. Us: Prindle? Taryn: Yeah, you know where the stick thing is. P-R-N-D-L. Tip 2: Never take yourself too seriously. Chris: When…
