More than 15 years have passed since my wife and I embarked on this journey they call marriage. We’ve traveled the world (and hopefully we’re not done), we’ve devoured the whole TV series of LOST in an addicted frenzy, we’ve brought 3 lovely daughters into the world, we’ve started businesses, gone on thousands of date nights, and one thing we’ve learned about us and many married couples we know…we don’t affirm each other enough.
Doesn’t it become so easy to criticize and tell the other person how they’re doing wrong? And if we’re not careful, we become our spouses biggest accuser instead of their biggest advocate. Deep down, that’s really what Lisa and I want to be in our marriage — each other’s biggest advocate.
Advocate.
Supporter. Friend. Defense Lawyer.
But it can be so hard sometimes, even though I know how awesome she is (I definitely married up, everybody). The marriage and relationship research out there says something like this: You’ve gotta give 5 positive affirmations for every criticism in order to stay at an equal emotional level. 5 to 1!!! Not 1 to 1. So before I drop a hint that I’d really appreciate her bringing my breakfast in bed right at 5:30 on the dot (just kidding, seriously, how horrible would that be?!), I’ve got to tell her 5 ways that I appreciate her utter awesomeness as a person.
Thus, this project. This journey together.
For the next 365 days, my wonderful wife and I are going to affirm each other and post them publicly. We’d love for you to join us on this very fun adventure into each other’s hearts. Our Blog name and Teachers Pay Teachers store is called “Created for Learning” because we focus a lot on how we were created for learning with our minds. So we threw a little twist in for this one and called this journey “Created for Learning Each Other.” Because it’s true. We get the rest of our lives together to learn each other. To become experts in each other.
So we hope our journey might somehow also inspire your relationships as much as it’s already invigorating ours.
And that’s just the beginning. Of this year’s adventure into knowing each other more. And of the next 70 years together!
You’re welcome to join us. It’s easier than you might think and so so so rewarding. If you end up joining us in 365 Days of I Love You, let us know! We’d love to hear your stories!
