Too often, as a culture and a society, we spend all our time reaching for more, reaching for better, reaching for something and not enough time stopping to appreciate what we have. In a marriage, there are always facets that we are working on whether it’s getting our spouse more involved in the housework or looking for more involvement in some area or another. Sometimes it’s just the struggle to get all the commitments taken care of in order to have some time together – but if we spend all our time looking for more, reaching for more and planning for more – we forget to look at what we have and to appreciate the here and the now.
The Week of Thanksgiving
Over the previous week of Thanksgiving, we spent a lot of time discussing what we were thankful for. I shared my own personal note to my husband on the issue of being thankful and I’ve written lists before about what I love about being a wife and more. It’s important that we embrace what we found we were thankful for last week and keep it close to the breast for the coming weeks, months and New Year.
When we appreciate and are grateful for what we have, we are more likely to enjoy what we have instead of letting dissatisfaction or more color our days and lead to unhappiness in our marriages. So let’s talk for a moment about appreciating what we have. Among the things that I appreciate about my marriage and my husband include, but are far from limited to:
- I appreciate his sense of humor and his positive outlook on life
- I appreciate that he loves me and even when things look bleak, that love has been unwavering
- I appreciate that he shares my goals for our daughter and wanting to provide the best that we possibly can for her
- I appreciate that he enjoys making me smile and looks for different ways to make my life easier
- I appreciate that he is a hard worker and dedicated to providing for his family
- I appreciate that he listens to me when I need an ear and doesn’t judge what I say and when I need his advice, he offers it unabashedly and doesn’t bash my way of handling things, but rather supports the genuine meaning and caring underneath it all
Embracing what you appreciate now, encourages thankfulness every single day and what better time to start appreciating what you have than this beautiful window created by Thanksgiving and Christmas – the holiday season can be so much more and it’s an opportunity that you and your spouse should seize.
What do you appreciate about your spouse today and every day?
Related Articles:
Marriage Exercises – The Healing of Humor
Appreciation Exercises – Challenge Yourself