Tag Archives: give and take

Marriages Need to Grow

Those who have been through marriage preparation classes could perhaps be better prepared for the reality of marriage. They’re a good idea but they still don’t have all the answers. Basically we can discuss issues before we are married. Mick and I did. We talked about children, money, other family members, religion and anything else that came to mind and that’s great. But sometimes those held views change over time and we need to rethink. That’s when we need to make sure the lines of communication stay open. Good, lasting marriages don’t just happen. Like gardens they need time to … Continue reading →

A Blind Date Leads to Love and Years

I never went on a blind date, although I tried (unsuccessfully, I might add) to arrange one or two. But for one couple a blind date turned out to be just the beginning. That blind date was over 50 years ago. This year the couple, Nancy and James Hibbert of Australia, achieved something statistics show only about five percent achieve – they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. When asked the secret to a long and happy marriage the Hibberts, who live at Culburra Beach, replied ‘give and take.’ And really, that sums it up in a nutshell. That’s exactly the … Continue reading →

Relationship Advice: You Deserve to Be Happy

A reader recently shared a situation, and closed by asking, “What do I do?” While I could tell people what I think they should do, simply stating what I deem best is not going to resolve the situation; however, I can offer some friendly suggestions that may make it easier to decide how best to proceed. I decided to write this up instead of responding elsewhere, because I hope it may help others in similar situations. Let me start by telling everyone that you deserve to be happy. You’ve heard it before, perhaps numerous times, but don’t just gloss over … Continue reading →

Married Life: A Tale of Give and Take

Married life requires individuals to develop trust and a balance between giving and taking. Control issues can often trip up couples up when they are learning to mesh their lives and their habits together into a cohesive whole. Even couples who cohabitated before they got married discover that married life is very different in expectation and execution. Whether you are used to having control issues or not, when two people join their lives together – there is always a certain amount of power struggle that occurs. It doesn’t even have to be a conscious struggle for power, the need for … Continue reading →