We've all seen it before - a once happy couple appears solemn and distressed. We wonder what happened to the peace in their marriage. When couples experience relationship challenges, a question asked by those tasked with helping bring greater peace in their marriage might be “What is it that you want in your marriage that you are not experiencing right now?” The answer to … [Read more...]
5 Important Reasons You Need a Vision for Your Marriage
I'm going to keep it real right now. I am naturally a "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of a woman. I enjoy spontaneity, surprises, and going with the flow. What will be, will be. There are days I just LOVE that about myself. And then, there are other days. You know, the ones where the bill you forgot about comes in and the seat of your pants spent the money on spa day! The … [Read more...]
The Idris Elba Syndrome: Can the Right Woman Change a Man’s Mind About Marriage?
If you were on a first date and the successful, swagalicious man you met on Soul Swipe said, "Am I ever gonna get remarried? I don't think so. Yeah, I don't think so. Marriage is an institution of sorts and I've done it. It's not for everybody. It's not my life's calling," what would you do? Tell the truth and shame the devil, ladies. Would you run for the hills so he … [Read more...]
5 Undeniably Classic Reasons Marriage is Not Outdated
There's a movie roaming around Netflix called "November Rule." It's an interesting flick that reveals the character of a young man who breaks up with his significant other right before the holidays. His plan is to pursue the relationship again right after Valentine's Day. His premise is that during the holidays and up until Valentine's Day, relationships get sticky. There are … [Read more...]
3 Crazy Things People Do to Solve Their Marriage Problems and Why They Won’t Work
At the beginning of a marriage, many couples take time out to celebrate the start of their lifetime journey by heading off on a traditional vacation called a honeymoon. It is a time for them to strengthen their relationship and establish a strong physical bond. The time is private, intimate, and purposefully special. Eventually, however, the honeymoon is over and they head … [Read more...]
Are You Prepared? These 4 Things Can Make or Break Your Marriage
My 13 year old son recently asked me a question that many of you are probably familiar with. It's the good old, "If you fill a glass half full of water, is the glass half full or half empty?" Naturally, I responded with the very wise, adult answer of, "well, it depends on your perspective." His response was, "No Mommy. It's completely full. It's half full of water and half full … [Read more...]
4 Healthy Ways to Change Your Marriage in 2018
Well, 2017 is almost outta here! It's been one heck of a year. When it comes to a fulfilling relationship with your spouse, 2017 either knocked your socks off or left you wanting. If you're one of the lucky ones, you and your spouse took on the world like Bonnie and Clyde. You were in this life together. Your relationship was untouchable and everyone around you knew it. Your … [Read more...]
Married in the Military: 8 Key Questions Every Military Marriage Should Ask
By Michael and Myra Holmes Making a marriage work is hard...and the challenges are exponentially compounded in military marriages. Frequent deployments, separation from your family support group, and the extreme pressures of military life can take a heavy toll on military couples creating anger, frustration, loneliness, anxiety, heartache, and fear. After you say, “I do,” … [Read more...]
3 Communication Signals Your Spouse Sends When They Start to Check Out of Your Marriage
No one wants to believe, much less be told, they are in a bad marriage. I mean, the typical walk down the aisle has usually been vetted with life circumstances that prepared the bride and groom for this commitment of a lifetime. The experiences they have faced up to that point and the way they have handled them solidified their conviction that they could handle anything … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Take Your Marriage Off Auto-Pilot and Avoid the Crash and Burn
There's nothing like the excitement of a new relationship. I recently went to a friend's birthday party and watched as she interacted with a gentleman I didn't know. However, their body language said it all. His eyes followed her around the room. Her smile brightened each time he was near her. She leaned in toward him when she spoke. There was a care and attentiveness to their … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Keep Your Junk (Baggage) from Ruining Your Marriage
Our trip to Virginia was not going to be long...just a few days. So, I decided to pack lightly. It was still warm in Georgia and without checking Virginia's weather forecast, I packed my bags with clothes appropriate for Georgia weather. Needless to say, I was surprised as the weather grew significantly cooler the further north we traveled. It turns out a "cold front" was … [Read more...]
His Lips, Her Hips, and These Tips Keep Romance Alive When Life Takes Over
Walk past most magazine racks in the grocery store and you are bound to be inundated with headlines boasting the "latest" or "hottest" or "kinkiest" bedroom tricks for couples eager to get it on. Let's face it. Keeping the mood sensual and the marriage bed beguiling is tough to do. For some couples, the honeymoon takes a backseat as life rears its necessary head after the first … [Read more...]
3 Ways Jay-Z’s Infidelity Confession Can Help You Save Your Marriage
So Jay-Z decided to add somewhat of a video postlude to his latest album "4:44" called "Footnotes for "'4:44'" and the latest clip has set the internet, and maybe some marriages, on fire. In it, the rapper gets real about his less than perfect relationship with Beyonce and the fight to piece their broken marriage back together. Claiming that his marriage was not built on … [Read more...]
Is the Art of Give and Take Alive and Well in Your Marriage?
By: Dr. George James We’ve all heard that it takes work to make relationships successful. At the same time, most of us do not know how much work (effort, commitment, communication and more) it takes. Just when you think you’ve learned how to juggle your needs and your partner’s needs, something or someone else gets added to the equation. For many, having children adds … [Read more...]
Top 3 Things that 18 Years of Marriage Have Taught Me
Anniversaries are super special in my house. I would never have imagined being married to my husband for eighteen years. Real talk, my parents didn't even think my husband Don and I would remain married past the first six months. They expressed this to us more times than I can count. Why would my parents think this, let alone have the nerve to verbalize this to us? Well, the … [Read more...]