Ask yourself the question: If my marriage were everything I would want it to be, what would that look like? This is going to be very important. We can be our own worst enemies, giving up hope and getting stuck in an old mindset. The new year, is the perfect time to take a fresh look. It’s your life. The same-old is always available.
Life Beyond the Pall
Molding the difficult into something new and beautiful is part of the grieving, healing process. Everything has a season. Along with the seasons of joy and celebration come seasons of mourning and loss. These rolling highs and lows are how life works. For each fading flower comes the remembrance of former beauty, love, comfort, and the hope of forward motion.
Looking and Feeling Our Best!
I work out. I eat well. I take a joint supplement and use a daily moisturizer. I do the same things most of you do to look and feel your best. Like my friend Jacquelyn told me while discussing this topic: “I can’t stop aging, but I am hoping to look the best I can for the age I’m at—and that makes me feel better.” That is probably the goal for all of us!
What is Your Role in Your Marriage?
Are you feeling sad? Feeling lonely? Have you built a facade in your marriage? You need the truth here, the real down deep feelings about how you are really feeling about your marriage. I was truthful with you. I felt dead inside. I couldn’t see the future. I didn’t know how it was going to happen. But I wanted more from my marriage.
How’s Your New Year’s Resolution Going?
I hope that when I’m stuck or circling around trying to figure out my next step, my word of the year will be what I need to move forward. And it will also remind me to connect with myself and what I’m really feeling. To connect with nature and the beauty all around me. To connect with my health and my creativity and laughter and growth. And to remember that when I connect, to always do it with kindness and gratitude.
A Compelling Future for Your Marriage
Just because we have approached our marriage a certain way for so long, doesn’t mean it always has to be that way. I feel we have been given these creative brains that we underutilize. We are such creatures of habit. What if there is a new, exciting way to approach your marriage.
My Bakers Dozen
Contemplating the year ahead has given thought to the advantages and blessings of being the age I am. I say advantages because I choose to look at the positive side of life! After all, there really isn’t anything I can do to change what stage of life I am at, and it’s a lot better than listing all of the unfortunate maladies, doctor’s appointments and issues of aging!
Are We Having Fun Yet?
Are you having fun with the person you have chosen to do life with? Fun will look different for each and every marriage. What I think is fun in my marriage probably won’t appeal to you. But I will say, the more fun I have with my husband the more in love with him I feel. Learning to laugh at myself, even when I blow it and admit my mistake—but have the courage to snicker about it, this has been huge for me.
The Sudden Exit Club
You, too, will find moments of celebration in your hard journey, if you look for and recognize them. Your momentum may be slow, but you will recover and resume forward motion, even when it is very difficult. The devastation you experience now will give way to lighter moments, like the dawning of a new, sun-filled day. Expect brighter days ahead and hold on to hope.
You Can Still Fulfill Your Dreams
Have you held dreams close to your heart, thinking you are too old to try? This just may be the Godwink you need to take them out, now that you have more time, and give them serious consideration.