I took an overnight trip this week to Old Sturbridge Village. I met up with a long-time girlfriend there. We had a great time, talking, eating, watching the presidential debate, and showing her around one of my favorite places on earth. I had lots of time to think on the long ride there and again on the way back, too, and I thoroughly enjoyed the fall scenery along the way. One of the things I...
Mentally healthy people don’t hit, push, punch, or throw things at loved ones who could be seriously hurt. Mentally healthy people do not ever have sex with an unwilling partner through force or threat. Mentally healthy people don’t load their kids or their spouse into the car and drive drunk. Mentally healthy people don’t stay in the vicinity of those they love when they cannot...
Here are three ways to notice a little more of the respect your spouse or life partner holds for you: Listen to what he or she reports to you about other couples. Negative comments about the abilities or reliability of friends’ mates probably mean yours are more impressive to your mate. Look beyond the words. Sure, driving tips sound like your driving skills are not respected, but when...
You can’t always go out for pizza and a movie, can you? Here are two more ideas for spending time together as a married couple. Miss the cool fall weather from where you grew up? Pack some soup, some bread, and some coffee or hot cider and head for your nearest ice skating rink. Don’t forget your mittens. Get some exercise on skates, then open your cool-weather feast at a table or on...
When ecstatic people tell you they have found their soul mate, you may well wonder if you could do better than the person you fell in love with. I believe the answer is no. The difference between a soul mate and another beloved is a feeling of great similarity and agreement, a meshing of values, interests, and approaches to life. But people are people. Interests change, values change, approaches...
