Are You Ready?

I recently came across the following quote, “Marriage is your last best chance to grow up.” Now, before I go any further, I really want you to let that sink in. So (with Jeopardy music playing in the background), ponder for a moment those words. Ok – “I’ll take growing up for $400.” Many of…

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What Do You See?

During a recent dinner conversation, while enjoying some great Mexican food, my friend Ed, who refurbishes houses, began to talk about different kinds of wall texturing. In his house they have a hand troweled texturing as opposed to the sprayed type. During the discussion, he mentioned that in one room of their house they sometimes…

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Are You Kidding Yourself?

“Things will get better.” This is a phrase of encouragement that we use with regularity. And it is often very true. For example, you are sad at the loss of a pet – “Things will get better.” True. As we typically experience grief, experiences are integrated into our new normal and things do get better.…

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Want a Job Promotion?

You may be wondering, “What in the world does my relationship have to do with a job promotion?” Well, I’m glad you asked. A five year research project out of Washington University in St. Louis made some very interesting, and relevant to relationships, discoveries. The project involved more than 4,500 people, examining the relationship between…

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Are You Constantly Irritated?

You walk past a co-worker’s desk saying “Good Morning.” He responds with, “Yea, what’s good about it?” You comment to your child that he or she did a nice job on that school project only to have them respond, “Right! You don’t like anything I do.” You send your wife a text expressing how much…

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Do You Want to Put Out the Fire?

I remember when my boys were younger and we would go camping multiple times every summer. We loved to fish, hike, and at night, sit by the campfire and eat smores. I recall how much Jeremy, the oldest enjoyed methodically gathering firewood. He would scavenger the area looking for loose limbs, but he most enjoyed…

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