communication

The Right Gift Every Time

by

surprised woman looking into gift boxIs there a way we can be confident we’re giving the right gift every time…no matter what?

We’re just a few days away from Christmas, and perhaps you’re still out there scrounging to find that last-minute perfect gift for someone.

Finding the right gift for that right person seems to come naturally for some. But for many of us, we struggle with finding the right gift. We worry… “What if they don’t like it?” “What if it’s the wrong size.” “What if they already have one?” After all, none of us wants to give a gift that will later surface at some white elephant gift exchange!

So back to the question. Is there something we can give that we can be confident will be the right gift every time? I think there is.

Read more

How to Better Live with Your In-Laws – 5 Steps

by

Portrait Of Multi-Generation Chinese Family Walking In Park TogetherIn the last post, we talked about the tug-of-war that comes with learning to live with your in-laws. In this post, we’ll look at 5 steps to improve your relationship with your in-laws. You may be thinking, “It can’t be that easy!” Well, notice that I said 5 steps to improve the relationship, not 5 steps to make the relationship the way you want it to be. So, let’s look at the 5 steps.

Read more

Your Marriage Needs More Drive Through

by

Drive thru road signWhen I say your marriage needs more drive through, I’m not saying your marriage needs more fast food take out orders. (Although, how cool would it be if you could improve your marriage with more fast food?)

No, I’m talking about conversation. Now don’t roll your eyes and say, “Not another post that tells me I’m supposed to emotionally open up and share my deepest feelings with my spouse!” That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about something simple and easy. Not a complete 4 course meal at some fancy restaurant. Just drive-through.

Read more

How Is Marriage Like Facebook, Makeup, and Toothpaste?

by

Four Quadrants graphic no linesHere’s a marriage riddle for you. (As if marriage wasn’t perplexing enough.) How is marriage like Facebook, makeup, and toothpaste? And the answer is not that both spouses need better profiles, wife’s need to use more makeup, and husbands need to use more toothpaste.

To find the answer, think about this. When people first start using Facebook they work hard to get the right profile and pictures on their page. They think through what to post and what not to post. They carefully craft each post, knowing that others will be reading it.

Read more

What Can A Marriage Learn From A Suicide?

by

EV007909Last night I learned of the suicide of Robin Williams. I was shocked and saddened by the news. I’ve always been in awe of his ability to riff and improvise on the spot.

It’s confusing when someone with so much to live for can’t see a reason to live. It’s jarring to think that someone could be so bright on the outside and so dark on the inside. Yet this is the reality for many people.

This is also the reality for many marriages.

Read more

Difficult People – Engage Them Without Being Absorbed by Them.

by

Frustrated Casual young man closing his ears with his handsThere are people in this world who are just difficult people.  Maybe they…

  • Love to stir up gossip.
  • Get others to do their work.
  • Are argumentative or negative.
  • Repeat the same careless mistakes.
  • Make the same old excuses.
  • Demand their own way.

Whatever the reason, difficult people make life difficult.  So what can you do about them…without getting thrown in jail?

Read more