Safety

“Safety” is a word that we feel more than we speak, when it comes to our significant relationships.  We also frequently feel unsafe, not necessarily physically but perhaps emotionally.  We all want to feel safe.  However, we may go about achieving that safety in some very creative ways. Like Earl, in the cartoon above, I…

Details

Nevertheless

I was intrigued recently as I heard a speaker use this word “nevertheless.”  It is not a word that we hear much now days.  Probably more popular alternatives are words like – “yet,” “therefore,” or “even so.”  But “nevertheless” was such an appropriate word in the context in which he used it. As I listened,…

Details

How Do You Support?

There is a story told that “Following a parade, the mayor of a large American city was walking with his wife when they passed a man sweeping the streets.  The wife recognized the street sweeper as one of her old high school boyfriends.  The three had a short conversation before the mayor and his wife…

Details

Conflict

I know couples who seem to fight all the time.  Some are always on the verge of walking out, while others would label their marriage as very happy.  What is the difference?  It may be in how we approach conflict.  Unless we are exactly like the person we are in a relationship with (in which…

Details

Weathering the Storms

For many, getting married was going to be the ultimate lifelong bliss that each and longed for.  We were going to be different from all of those other couples who seemed to fight and struggle with problems.  We had found the one who would make us happy and we would not experience the difficulties that…

Details

Bring Back Fun

Remember when you used to look forward to getting home to your spouse, when you couldn’t wait to have the weekend together?  Remember when the relationship was fun?  For some, fun was two kids and twenty years ago.  But for most, fun was a central part of your relationship early on.  In a university study…

Details

Want to Be Healthier?

“I am telling you, she gives me such a headache.”  “The way that he treats me leaves me with a churning stomach.”  “All we ever seem to do is fight – it makes me sick.”  Have you ever felt this way?  If so, you’re not alone.  In a study that was reported at the American…

Details

A Gift This Valentine’s Day

This coming Friday is that day when you have the opportunity to express special appreciation and love for your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend – that important person in your life.  How will you do that? I heard a commercial for a jewelry store the other day, telling listeners to not go with the appliance but…

Details

Still Dating

I remember a story from a number of years ago, that a friend related regarding his parents.  He said that when he was growing up, his “normal” was different from that of many of his school friends.  He related that his parents kissed in the kitchen every morning, his dad brought his mom flowers once…

Details