I can dish out some attitude and quite a bit of lip if I feel like it’s necessary. And sure, I can blame it on being born and raised in Brooklyn, New York; but I know darn well I would still be me if I was born and raised in Kentucky. I am who I am. What has served me well in life, however, is not my sassy attitude, but rather my ability to know when to turn it … [Read more...]
“We Need to Talk.” What To Do When Communication Problems Arise
Communication problems are common in marriages. And, to be honest, it’s not just married people who struggle with effectively expressing their thoughts. All around the world, people are communicating poorly every single second, and most usually don't realize it. So what do we do? How do we change this pattern of poor communication in marriages, knowing that the … [Read more...]
3 Pieces of Bad Relationship Advice People Always Share But You Should Never Take
Relationships often come with unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes they lead us in a direction that strengthens our relationship with very little effort on our part, but it’s not always that easy. The twists and turns can be complicated, leaving us feeling like we need an outside party to help guide the way. Frankly, there is nothing wrong with seeking help for your … [Read more...]
5 Ways Stress Can Wreak Havoc on Your Marriage and What You Can Do About It
Have you ever ended your day feeling so stressed out you are mentally, physically, and emotionally drained? I’ve been there. Too tired to talk to anyone, even my husband, and too irritated to wrap my brain around the day I just had. But have you ever reached a point where these days seem to happen with more frequency? Your once a month migraine is now happening four times a … [Read more...]
9 Questions to Ask Yourself if You Feel Stuck in an Unhappy Marriage
It’s unfortunate, but the world is full of people who feign happiness to keep up appearances. When you walk down the aisle and take a vow before your friends and family to stay with someone for the rest of your life, admitting that things are not working out as planned can be tough. Many would rather pretend than admit they are unhappy or that they feel stuck. Feeling stuck … [Read more...]
6 Hard Questions that Help Let Go of Relationship Clutter
I am a bit of a pack rat. I hate to admit it because I know it’s not the best habit, but it is what it is. I hold on to things I don’t need for way too long. I let random things linger around the home when they serve no real purpose. And worst of all, I love to act like I really need and want something—like it’s still useful—when I know that it’s just not. But with some hard … [Read more...]
7 Indicators that Technology is Killing Your Marriage?
On Valentine’s Day my husband gave me this tiny piece of artwork to put on my desk—something to make me laugh. Do you know what it says? It says, “Love you more than my iPhone.” Honesty, it had me cracking up because if the two of us aren’t mindful about our habits, someone can definitely be left feeling like they are competing with the iPhone for some love. Technology is an … [Read more...]
3 Reasons Why Your Spouse Cheated on You
Infidelity. It has to be one of the toughest marital problems for any couple to discuss. Trust and honesty serve as the foundation of marriage. People enter their unions believing that they can trust the person they just made a life-long commitment to. When something like infidelity happens, it shakes the foundation that the marriage stands on. Once there is a crack in your … [Read more...]
Is Your Weight Causing Marital Problems?
I’m not a thin girl. Frankly, I never have been. I think I struggled with my weight since I was in elementary school. Too much food and not enough movement landed me in a state that made life tough at times. I managed, though. I never struggled with forming friendships or being liked. Despite some self-esteem issues, I worked with what I had and allowed my personality to shine. … [Read more...]
5 Questions to Consider Before Giving Up on Your Marriage
The whole idea of marriage, is that it will last forever. Most people don’t enter their union thinking about when things will end. Instead, they go into it hoping and praying that things never end. A commitment that isn’t taken lightly by most, marriage is about enjoying the best of life, while preparing to manage and survive the very worst. It’s about staying together through … [Read more...]
5 Fears That Can Ruin Your Marriage
Fear is a beast. If you aren’t mindful, it just shows up wherever and whenever it wants, reeking havoc on your life and everything in it. Fear has this way of creeping up on us and stopping us in our tracks. It informs our decisions and stops us from becoming the best possible version of ourselves. If there is one thing we all need to get a handle on in our lives, it’s our … [Read more...]
Rephrasing Things So Your Husband Can Actually Hear You
I think men often get a bad rep for not being the best listeners. I’ve heard women complain about how their husband tunes them out or doesn’t quite get what they are trying to express. But as communicators, we have to really be willing to ask ourselves some tough questions if our messages are not being well received. Sometimes the problem is not the message or the receiver. … [Read more...]
5 Secrets That Could Destroy Your Marriage
I am very happily married, but our entire marriage has been built on a lie since I have been keeping a few secrets. Now did you believe that for one second? I sure didn’t, because strong, healthy, happy marriages are not built on lies and secrets. Marriages that are truly happy—the kind that last—are built on open and honest communication. Keeping secrets rarely serves … [Read more...]
9 Unspoken Rules About Marriage that Speaks Volumes
When I took my wedding vows before God, I meant every word. I plan to love, honor and respect my husband until death parts us. I know he meant them, too. The vows we make, before God and the people we love most, serve as a spoken promise to each other. You can even call them rules, really. It’s like we are saying, “these are the rules we plan to play by so this thing can … [Read more...]
How Far Would You Go to Save Your Marriage?
Lately, each time we see or hear from crooner Robin Thicke, estranged husband of actress Paula Patton, he’s either singing passionately about his wife coming home, naming an entire album after her, or actually apologizing and verbally begging for her immediate return. Anyone who watched the BET Awards and witnessed Robin’s public plea for Paula to forgive him had to feel some … [Read more...]