“Why don’t we spend the evening in complete silence? We can use sign language and non-verbals to communicate. Wouldn’t that be fun?” Eric pitched this idea to me when we were planning how to spend one of our free evenings together. As a woman who works from home, the idea of having no conversation at night freaked me out a bit. We did not end up doing it (due to my reticence), but I wonder if maybe the idea is a good one after all – as long as I can plan to talk to friends beforehand so I don’t burst! Most people in our culture are not suffering from a lack of noise. If anything, we … [Read more...]

Have you ever stopped and considered how different you would be if you had been born into a different family? If you had never met some of the key people in your life? Do you wonder who you would be today if you had not been influenced by your parents, your grandparents, specific mentors, friends, and teachers? We are all who we are because of others’ influence. Portions of our personalities are genetic, but none of us are islands. We have picked up worldviews, traits, and interests from those around us, and there is no doubt we have influenced others as well. We do not realize how much … [Read more...]

Would you ever lie to your boyfriend or girlfriend about your personality, preferences, or life goals? As ridiculous as it may seem, painting a false picture of yourself is easier than you may think. Lying to your significant other does not have to be as blatant as saying, “I love dogs” when you clearly hate them. We can paint false pictures by happily attending sporting events with our sweeties while secretly hating them. By putting on a happy face, we appear to share a hobby that we have no intention of “enjoying” after marriage. Sometimes when we find ourselves smitten with an … [Read more...]

Maybe you are the kind of person who loves to try new experiences. Maybe you are drawn to them like a magnet to a fridge. Or, maybe you avoid the new and unfamiliar. I have been the hesitant, unsure friend most of my life. Surrounded by risk-takers, I was usually the one in the corner watching. I would have told you that I wanted it that way; yet, deep down, I felt left out and wished I was braver. Some of your quiet friends may actually mean it when they say, “No, I’d rather not try that.” But, some of them may be like me. “No, I’d rather not try that” might mean “I’d totally do that if I … [Read more...]

With my tenth anniversary (I cannot even believe it) just a month away, I have been thinking about a few lessons I have learned along the way which I wish I had known before I tied the knot. No couple is fully prepared for marriage no matter how many books they have read or discussions they have had together (but, you certainly can get closer to it!). It is important to prepare to be a husband or wife, but everyone encounters surprises; and, without challenges to work through, we would never grow. So, as strange as it sounds, I am thankful for the challenges. They made us stronger individually … [Read more...]