Do You Pay Attention To Your Partner?

The worst that can be said of a person is that they “did not pay attention.” William Meredith I’m not sure how I came across the above quote, but it has stayed with me for years.  I often quote Meredith in my communication training seminars since so much of “mis-communication” is about “mis-perception,” about not paying attention. So the question for this post is simply this: Do you and your partner pay attention to each other? Especially now as you’re …

Presume Nothing – While Planning Your Wedding!

We enter marriage offering the best of who we are: our deepest feelings, our best intentions, our greatest hopes, full of generosity and affection for our partner. But we fall in love and decide to live the rest of our loves together without realizing that loving each other and living our life together are different.                                                                         Susan Piver When Philip and Cora first met with me they were five months away from their wedding.  In their late twenties, they’d been …

7 Tips to Help You Listen to Yourself and to Your Partner

When we talked, I felt brilliant, fascinating; she brought out the version of myself I like most. Nadir Alsadir     true story Ashley and Dan invited me to have pizza as we finalized the ceremony details. It was going to be ninety degrees the afternoon of their outdoor ceremony and Dan reminded me he wanted it kept barebones short. As he droned on, I noticed Ashley was quiet and no longer smiling. Her family was Roman Catholic and not …

Marriage = One Long, Grand Conversation!

photo: jesse leake   A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short. Andre Malroux    true story One night I grabbed dinner at my favorite local bistro. The staff knows me and brings me “the usual” without my having to ask. I was lost in a book when I happened to glance up and look across the room. Two tables lined the opposite wall.   At one sat a young couple in their twenties – laughing, …

The Odd History of Marriage

I’m constantly reading other blogs, along with magazines and papers and so I’m constantly clipping and saving tidbits I find interesting. Oftentimes, though, when I return to the clipping, I can’t recall why I had saved the info or where it’s from! And so it is with this item. . . Recently, I was sorting through a bunch of posts I had saved regarding weddings.  I have no idea where I got the following, but apparently it’s a review of …

The Real Woman Creed

  I came across this item and filed it away. I’ve got two nieces and five goddaughters and I thought this was something I’d like them to read (and embrace!). . .   It then occurred to me that this is actually a wonderful “creed” for any bride and so I’m sharing it here.   I’ve looked for “The Real Man’s Creed” and couldn’t find one. Grooms – any suggestions as to how your creed should read?   The Real …