| This little bit of marriage advice should be easy enough | | | | might want to reconsider and make a true effort in this |
| to follow, yet we seem to struggle with it so often. | | | | area, since it could bring around some real change that |
| Here's a closer look at why, and a few ways to act | | | | you might love to see. |
| on it. | | | | Some ideas: |
| It is so easy to take each other for granted. | | | | - Write your spouse a love letter, straight from the |
| Oftentimes we even think we expressed our | | | | heart, letting them know how much they mean to you |
| appreciation, but if we ask our spouse about it, he/she | | | | and how much you appreciate all they do for you. |
| might have never figure it out and still thinks his/her | | | | Don't be afraid to go into details. |
| deed went unnoticed. | | | | - Write a short little note along the lines of: Just to let |
| One would think that saying thank you for daily little | | | | you know I appreciate this or that you did for me (or |
| things shouldn't be so hard. Well, then why aren't we | | | | for the kids, or for us). |
| doing it? Often we have grown so used to each doing | | | | - Buy her flowers (cliche? Maybe. But I'll doubt she'll |
| certain things, that we might view those as "your part | | | | complain). |
| of the bargain", and not think they require a "thank-you" | | | | - Cook him his favorite meal (maybe cliche too, has |
| anymore. But in the end they do. | | | | yet to fail on my husband though). |
| Why? Because when you feel appreciated you also | | | | - Have a romantic evening with candles, music and the |
| feel loved, both feelings inspire you to give more back. | | | | whole nine yards to show your appreciation. |
| If on the other hand we never hear appreciation we | | | | - Offer a neck-, foot- or back rub in recognition of your |
| might think the other person doesn't like what we are | | | | spouse's hard work. |
| doing and may stop doing it. Or we may come to the | | | | - Run you spouse a luxurious bubble bath after a long |
| conclusion: why bother doing this if it doesn't get | | | | day's work, with some music they like, some candles, |
| noticed anyway? Lack of appreciation undermines our | | | | the works. |
| relationship. Everything may seem normal on the | | | | - Take over one of their regular chores for a day (or a |
| surface for a good long while, but it's getting hollowed | | | | week . . .) to say thank you. I doubt that offer will be |
| out from the inside. | | | | refused. These are just some ideas to push you in the |
| While on the other hand, if we continuously express | | | | right direction. But get creative. Think about the ways |
| our appreciation for each other, even in the little | | | | you spouse would really be able to receive and |
| seemingly so unimportant things, we strengthen our | | | | understand your appreciation and then go for it full-out. |
| marriage. Every "thank you", "mmh, yummy", "great | | | | So my piece of marriage advice to you: Showing your |
| job", "I'm proud of you" etc. is strengthening your bond | | | | appreciation is one of the best ways to cement your |
| as a couple. If you aren't used to expressing yourself in | | | | relationship and let your love grow. |
| such a way, or consider it a waste of your breath, you | | | | |