Running Together into 2020

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Connection, Goals, Marriage Health, Quality Time, Reconnecting, Romance

Have you ever seen a three-legged race? Teams of two people tie one leg to the other person’s leg and then take off running together on what looks like three legs. It’s awkward at best. And kind of silly. But after a few clumsy steps, it’s possible for two people who are tied to each other to cooperate and race …

Gratitude journal.

Gratitude: It’s Good for your Marriage

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Connection, Contentment, Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Listening, Marriage Health

‘Tis the season for gratitude, aka Thanksgiving. And traditionally, Thanksgiving is marked by gathering around the holiday table with family and friends. (And watching football games on television. While enjoying another piece of pie.) Hopefully, in the midst of all the food and fun, we take time to give thanks for our blessings. Because Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. But …

“Fall” in Love Again—A Dozen Autumn Dates

Marriage Dynamics InstituteConnection, Date Night, Quality Time, Romance

It may be 95 degrees at your house, but the calendar says Autumn has arrived. And the change of seasons brings a return to some familiar rhythms of life. Because kids are back in school. Friday night lights are ablaze in cities and towns across the country. And pumpkin spice is absolutely everywhere. After the lazy days of summer, life …

Anniversary Celebration Ideas

Marriage Dynamics InstituteMarriage Health, Quality Time, Romance, Weddings

How do you and your spouse like to celebrate your anniversary? Could you use some fresh anniversary celebration ideas? You don’t have to spend a lot of money or make every anniversary a huge event. Sometimes that’s not possible or even appropriate. But committing yourself to another person for life is a big deal, and your marriage is worth celebrating. …

The Gift of a Strong Marriage (Part 1) — Fulfillment

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommitment, Communication, Contentment, Intimacy, Listening, Marriage Health, Patience, Quality Time, Selfishness

People get married for lots of reasons. But according to a telephone survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, the number one reason people marry is love. Shocker. Reasons two and three are also unremarkable. People marry because they want to make a lifelong commitment. And they marry for companionship. No surprises there. Human beings are created in the image …

Young African American family - keeping love alive while parenting

Balancing Marriage and Parenting: Keeping Love Alive While You Raise Kids

Marriage Dynamics InstituteContentment, Marriage Health, Reconnecting, Uncategorized

Balancing marriage and parenting is not for the faint of heart. For most of us, bringing home our first child introduces a whole new kind of love into our lives. Holding that newborn baby for the first time, we know we’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe and warm and happy. Yet we soon discover that bringing that little …

Photo of happy couple - good things about being married

A Few Things We Love About Being Married

Marriage Dynamics InstituteContentment, Uncategorized

In the movie Forget Paris, the character Andy quips, “Marriages don’t work when one partner is happy and the other is miserable. Marriage is about both people being equally miserable.” Have you noticed how movies and TV shows tend to portray being married as one of two extremes—happily ever after and happily never after? But in real-life relationships, it falls …

Couple gardening - why maintenance is so good for your marriage

Why Regular Maintenance is Great for Your Marriage

Marriage Dynamics InstituteContentment, Marriage Health, Uncategorized

Our bodies require maintenance to stay healthy. Gardens need maintenance to grow. Cars need maintenance to run well. A business needs maintenance to be successful. Why should it be any different for marriages? Many couples have premarital counseling before tying the knot, which is great. But you’d never expect four or five workouts at age 22 to keep a person …