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Conscious Coupling: 10 Decisions for 10 Years — 5 Comments

  1. After 35 years together, I speak from experience. I can tell y’all are on the right path and congratulate you on making it to this significant milestone.

    Here are a couple more tips for you:

    Fight fair — every couple will eventually have a strong disagreement and it is important to remember that “I am arguing with someone I love” so keep it fair. Don’t drag up items from the past that have already been resolved; don’t call one another names; try hard not to raise your voice; try to always speak to each other with AT LEAST as much respect as you would show your boss at work, hopefully a lot more.

    Complement your spouse! — whether it’s a tasty side dish they made, or cleaning a room, or even that they look sharp today. Everyone likes to know they did something well and our spouses like to know that we think they’re doing a good job. If you get a chance to brag on them in front of others, all the better!

    • Great points Dempsy! I especially like the idea of complimenting your spouse and bragging them up. We can never do enough of that!

  2. Jon,

    First of all, congratulations to you and Brianne. The first ten years are conscious coupling adjustment years. We follow your articles and this one contained a lot of wisdom. If we may, we’d like to add a couple of things to your ten excellent observations. 1) Never make a promise you cannot keep. If you make it, always follow through because it builds trust, not only for your relationship with Brianne but with your kids too! So, be short on promises and long on delivery. 2) Whatever the occasion, always be on time or early. It cuts down on stress and is always appreciated by those involved. We tend to try and get in one more thing or task before taking off for the occasion. Allow some flex time in your schedule. 3) don’t let a day go by without telling everyone in your family that you love them. End every call to them with “I love you.” 4) I’m sure you do it but praying together every day for all the little things that got done or for people you met. It’s a great way to wrap up the day. You two are doing a lot of things right and I’m sure your list will get longer as the years go by. We love your whole family and feel blessed to know you. Blessings!

    • Great stuff Early & Pat! Really appreciate all of the thoughts you shared. We have been trying our best to work on #2 🙂

  3. From this old man: your essay demonstrates some impressive wisdom for a “youngster”. Shows how studying and doing the Word can make life good, not easy, but good! Keep working at it. Would that more would do likewise.