Too many people see being single as a “disease” that needs to be cured rather than a season of life or possibly even a calling for life. Some come right out and say it: “Girl, why are you still single? Can’t you find a man?” Or, “if you weren’t so picky, you would be able to catch a guy.” Others are much more subtle. They don’t speak so much of your singleness, but are … [Read more...]
Here’s Why It’s Okay to Take Time for Yourself
We are all busy people and this is a busy world. We are mothers, fathers, parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, grandchildren, professionals, friends, and so many other roles. We make time for the people and things that matter most to us and often at the expense of ourselves and our personal priorities. Now in an era where self-care is critical to your peace of mind, … [Read more...]
A Dozen Great Ways to Keep Your Relationship Fresh
As I reflect on my relationship (which I have been in now for over 16 years, more than a 1/3 of my life), I am so grateful for the fact that it doesn’t feel that long. In fact, the longer we're in it, the better it gets. And as I take a step back to reflect, there are definitely some intentional things that we did that have kept us both happy, fulfilled, and feeling like the … [Read more...]
3 Expectations You Should Get Rid of to Improve Your Marriage
I expect my husband to mess up sometimes. Not because he’s some loser who always messes up—because that is far from true—but because he’s human. I hope he expects me to mess up too, because I will. When you enter a relationship intended to last a lifetime, there has to be an honest discussion with yourself and your spouse about what’s expected. Many marriages struggled … [Read more...]
5 Very Personal Issues That Are Getting in the Way of Your Happily Ever After
Whether you find yourself single, married or somewhere in between, trying to build a healthy, lasting relationship isn’t always easy. It takes time and hard work. Furthermore, it requires a level of introspection that actually makes most people uncomfortable. But the more we are willing and able to take a closer look at who we are and how we move through the world, the more … [Read more...]
Ughh, She’s Always Bragging About Her Relationship; 4 Reasons to Stop Hating!
No one likes a bragger. Even when our kids brag, we pull them to the side to explain why it’s not the best way to express excitement about something. It can be a hard concept for kids to get, but we expect better from adults. We expect adults to remain humble and spare us from all the talk about how amazing their life is. But is it possible that sometimes we are wrong? That … [Read more...]
5 Critical Choices You Need to Make Daily to Have a Marriage That Lasts a Lifetime
I don't take for granted that I have a fulfilling, happy and amazing relationship with my husband. Is everything perfect? Of course not. But everything is perfect for us and our relationship. Over the decade that we've been married, we've seen a lot of marriages fail. And every time, we hear of another failed marriage, it leads us to dialogue about our own marriage. We bring … [Read more...]
Want a Happier Marriage? 7 Things that Will Take Your Marriage from Stressed to Blessed
Years ago, someone told me that being happily married was overrated because marriage is not about happiness. They shared that marriage was about a partnership and building a stable family...What? That’s it? We can’t do those things and be happy? I was confused then, and I’m still confused now. Why would anyone commit to spending a lifetime with another person if you both … [Read more...]
9 Super Easy Ways to Make Your Family Healthier and Happier
We live in a world that makes it challenging to determine what we should or shouldn’t do when it comes to living a healthier lifestyle. Many of us try our best to get it right because we know how much good health matters. But for many, sorting through all the noise is frustrating. Life is stressful, and slipping into bad habits becomes easier and easier with each passing … [Read more...]
It’s Not a FairyTale: 9 Ways to Create “Happily Ever After” in Your Marriage
Happily ever after. That’s the dream, right? We get married with the hopes that what we have will last forever. And let’s not kid ourselves—forever is a really, really long time. But we date and eventually make a decision to share this one life we have with a partner whom we believe is worthy. Yet, despite our best intentions, wanting to be married forever isn’t enough. If … [Read more...]
3 Successful Ways to Fight Depression, Get Happy, and Save Your Marriage
Have you ever felt down and out while the world expects you to put on a happy face because your life appears to be so good? You have the career, the kids, the dog, and the awesome husband. On the surface, it looks like everything is going your way. And maybe it is. Maybe you have a career you’ve always wanted and you actually married the right guy and had amazing kids with … [Read more...]
5 Things That May Be Killing Your Mood and Your Spouse Didn’t Make the List
You wake up in a crappy mood and look at the person laying next to you in bed. It’s your spouse. Unfortunately, he is going to have to deal with your funky mood today, the way he has for countless days. He loves you. He knows you love him. But that funk you’ve been in makes you no fun to be around. As a matter of fact, it makes you downright impossible to be around some … [Read more...]
7 Things that Will Make Your Family Happier…And Isn’t that What Really Matters
As a mom of two I can tell you that when I am tired, stressed out, and just plain overwhelmed, it’s probably hard for everyone around me to bubble over with joy. Of course I don’t go out of my way to make anyone unhappy, but trying to run a happy home when I'm just not happy is hard, if not near impossible. And it’s not just mom’s mood that impacts the family. Everyone plays … [Read more...]
8 Secrets to Everyday Happiness
By Lia Miller Happiness is a choice. It is not just a way of being, but rather a conscious choice and something you must commit to seeking every day. Happiness is what life is all about; it is what makes the challenges, failures, stresses, and losses, bearable. Happiness fills you up with goodness, inspires you to greatness, and heals all things. Happiness is worthy of … [Read more...]
8 Things You Need to Accept for Your Marriage to Work
Years ago, when I started dating my now spouse, I would get so annoyed because he had such a hard time planning things in advance. Now, we have been married for almost seven years, and guess what? He still has a hard time planning things in advance. Do I still get annoyed? Not as often, but occasionally I do. Over time I have come to realize that many of the problems that … [Read more...]