Marriage

The Pandemic Marriage

February 25, 2021

You may think this post on marriage in a pandemic is a little late. But, when the pandemic first broke, I like many others, expected it to be a fleeting thing. Then, when it continued to dominate life, there were so many people writing about marriage in a pandemic I didn’t see the need to […]

Minding the Gaps: Dealing with the Differences Between Spouses

February 18, 2021

Dealing with the differences between you and your spouse is one of the most common frustrations in marriage. It’s funny how the differences we found so attractive when we were dating can become so irritating later. In this week’s Normal Marriage post, I’m going to point you to one of my Quick Counsel podcast episodes […]

Are You A Good Kisser?

February 11, 2021

Are you a good kisser? Probably not a question you’re asked a lot – if at all! And how do you answer such a question? If you answer “no,” you sound incompetent and inept. And if you answer “yes,” you sound arrogant and narcissistic. Besides, how do you judge a kiss? Is there a preferred […]

What are the Glory Days of Your Marriage?

January 21, 2021

Glory days. If you’re a Bruce Springsteen fan, those words will automatically bring a great song to mind. But the concept of glory days has been around much longer than Springsteen. GLORY DAYS. The Cambridge Dictionary defines glory days as a period of time when someone was very successful. You might hear someone talk about […]

Don’t Feel Attracted to Your Spouse? Try These 4 Principles.

January 14, 2021

It seems like attraction should be a key ingredient in marriage. After all, we all want to be attracted to our spouse, and we want our spouse to be attracted to us. But what if that attraction isn’t there? What then? ATTRACTION. Attraction can fluctuate throughout the course of a marriage. It’s strong in the […]

Do You Know Your Spouse?

December 3, 2020

  Maybe you read the title of this post and thought, “I don’t need this post. I know my spouse.” I’ve thought the same thing. I’ve been married for over forty years, and I think I’ve got a pretty good handle on knowing my wife. But there are still times when she will say or […]

Why Did You Get Married?

November 12, 2020

WHY DO PEOPLE GET MARRIED? When I am counseling couples, I often ask them this question: “Why did you get married?“ The answers vary… I fell in love with them. We had so much in common. I loved spending time with them. We were tired of going home at the end of the date. It […]

Priming the Pump

October 29, 2020

THE FEELING Do you feel like you’re starving in your marriage? Maybe you’ve not admitted it to anyone. Perhaps you’ve tried to downplay it, rationalize it, or ignore it. But you feel it. Inside, you’re starving for: Attention. Affection. Time. Support. Appreciation. Acceptance. Encouragement. Etc. Whatever it may be, if you feel like you’re starving […]

Is Your Marriage Out of Focus?

October 8, 2020

  When you go to have your eyes checked, the first thing they do is determine your focus. They want to know what you’re able to focus on and what you’re not. Just like your eyes, the health of your marriage has a lot to do with your focus. And just like your eyes, your […]

What Can You Do If You’re Dissatisfied With Your Marriage?

October 1, 2020

  If you’re dissatisfied with your spouse or your marriage, you’re not alone. As we saw in the last post, it’s not that uncommon. But the big question is, what do you do about it? In this post, we’ll look at what you can do if you’re dissatisfied with your marriage. ARE YOU DOOMED TO […]