Spontaneity of Summer
Photo by Alice Donovan Rouse on Unsplash With the way 2020 has been so far, summer activities are incredibly difficult to plan. How can we plan a getaway three months from now when we really have no idea what the world or COVID will look like three months from now? It...
Sweet Summertime!
I always think of summertime as family reunion time — but how can you have a reunion with social distancing? It might mean it looks different this summer, but it doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected to your families.
Compromise Conversations
Photo by Jack Finnigan on Unsplash Our last blog was about UNDERSTANDING, but how do you actually come to a compromise? How can you come to a compromise without letting go of your core need? The Gottmans discussed this on their website and they advocate for...
How to Have Conversations With Your Loved One When You Disagree
Photo by Joshua Ness on Unsplash You may not always agree with your partner on political, philosophical, or theological ideas — how do you manage that conversation without it becoming volatile? Emotions are running high right now and a lot of people don’t know what...
Video Counseling In The Time Of COVID
Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash I thought I would hate it. It was intense at first. Even though some people are moving back into the office, many of us are going to remain counseling online for the foreseeable future. For me and my own personal health, I’ve...
When They Lose Their Job
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash With the pandemic shutting down much of the economy, today nearly 1 in 4 Americans have found themselves out of work. That means everyone has seen someone lose a job through this crisis. If your partner suddenly finds themselves...
Maintaining Relationships with Social Distancing
Photo by Dylan Ferreira on Unsplash For many people, the last few months has been a time of unprecedented closeness to our partners. Many of us have never, and perhaps will never, spend this much unending time with our spouses outside of your honeymoon. For many...
Hygge and Home
Photo by Stella Rose on Unsplash According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “Hygge” (pronounced “hoo-guh”) is a Danish word defined as a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. I have always been one who...
Hold On
Photo by Ümit Bulut on Unsplash We’re all feeling it: compounding crises are making this spring extremely difficult for many. America is suffering under a cloud of uncertainty, trauma, and pain. This is incredibly difficult. In this traumatic time, it is more...
Your Bed is Not A Workplace
Photo by Gabriel Beaudry on Unsplash When I was young, my mom would never let me eat in bed — she never wanted me to get crumbs in the sheets. If I did, I’d have to change my sheets, a chore I simply hated. These days, many of us have started using our beds for many...
Passion vs. Stress
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash Passion can be a wonderful thing; it gives you the energy to do the tough stuff that you really want to accomplish. It drives you! For many, our passion is what first attracted our partner to us. They admire our hard work and our big...
Your Anxiety First Aid Kit
Photo by milan degraeve on Unsplash You can start to feel it; your body is changing. Your heart rate picks up, you can feel it beating in your chest. Your pupils dilate, your breath quickens, your hands start to shake. This isn’t quite a panic attack, but you’re...
Is Perfection Holding You Back?
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash “Good Enough.” What’s your reaction when I ask, “Are you good enough?” Do you find yourself cringing, disappointed, discontent — because the phrase ‘good enough’ just communicates to you that you aren’t ‘the best’? I know many...
The Danger of Relational Assumptions
Photo by Luis Tosta on Unsplash The assumptions — and the baggage — that we bring into our marriages can make a big difference in our long term relationship. When we come into marriage without knowing what the other’s assumptions are about all the main topics (money,...
