Thank you for taking the time to read my post! My last post about "7 Things Happy Wives Do Not Do" received positive feedback and provoked my thoughts to think about couples!
1. Wanting to Be Right
Let's get one thing straight, when it comes to being married, you don't have to be always right! I get it, it's hard when you feel your views are held dear to you, and cannot even fathom that they would be wrong. But honestly, is it worth it? Is it worth your time and energy to make the other person feel.. WRONG? When the situation arises, take a step back, and ask yourself, "Does it really matter?" Most of the time, it doesn't. Above all, being kind is better than being right. We must learn the art of expressing our opinions, respectfully and not in a downgrading, "I'm smarter than you", manner. If you can't respect while expressing, you are stirring the pot to an excellent mixture of bitterness.
And when you get down to it, life is much better when you get along with your spouse, and not being Mr. or Mrs. Right.
"Being kind is much more important than being right."2. Not Willing To Compromise
A happy marriage doesn't just happen, it takes effort, time, patience, and 2 people that are willing to compromise and meet in the middle. Let's face it, just based on my own experience, it is not easy to adjust my way of thinking to meet the expectation of Justin! But here's the thing, when there is a disagreement, work together so that both parties are satisfied. Don't argue to the point that one of you feels like they have to give in. Trust me, this does not work. Take a break, and have each person say what they want. Then, find somewhere in the middle where you both can come to an agreement. I'm not telling you it's easy, it takes practice and a lot of patience.
Bottom line, love is when you care about the other person's happiness, more than your own. Love is not just the fun dates, smooches, and sleeping with each other, it's a lifetime commitment of cooperation and compromises!
“We don't give to get, we get to give." -R. Allen Woods
3. Getting Too Comfortable to Appreciate Each Other
So your honeymoon stage is over and real life kicks in. You become very busy and basically, let life take you by the reigns. I get it, you don't have time to tell your spouse nice things, in fact, they should already know how you feel about him/her, being that you chose him/her to be your partner for life! However, this is not a good formula for a happy marriage. The key to having a joyful bond, is EXPRESSING how you feel towards your spouse through words and actions. To you, it may be a small thing, but just a quick appreciation remark can make your spouse's day a little brighter.
Tell each other how much you love one another every night, and prove it every day. That is something Justin and I practice daily. I make sure to let him know how much I appreciate all he does, whether it's closing a business deal or picking up after himself.
Acts of appreciation do not need to be extravagant, they just need to be true, and they need to happen daily.
So go ahead, and compliment each other. What you focus on, becomes the bigger pictures. And what we appreciate, grows in value.
Too
often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/leobuscagl106299.html#gUlIzghgrGpcw7Bc.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/leobuscagl106299.html#gUlIzghgrGpcw7Bc.99
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
- Leo Buscaglia
Too
often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/leobuscagl106299.html#gUlIzghgrGpcw7Bc.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/leobuscagl106299.html#gUlIzghgrGpcw7Bc.99
Too
often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/leobuscagl106299.html#gUlIzghgrGpcw7Bc.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/leobuscagl106299.html#gUlIzghgrGpcw7Bc.99
Thank you for reading my blog! If you found it useful, please feel free to share!
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! Don't be so busy with the holiday season, that you forget to love each other! Merry Christmas to you from the Van Kirks!
