We are about the big things, aren’t we? The magic wand or the secret word that will make our lives together sooooo much better.
We listen to podcasts, get daily emails, read the latest relationship books – always looking for that one thing that we didn’t know before now that will make the difference. Put the spark back into our marriage.
It always seems to elude us.
We practice things faithfully for a while, then little-by-little we fall back into the same patterns as before.
We write each other notes, say ‘I love you’ 10 times per day, do the chores…
We are working at it, critiquing it, changing it, being frustrated by it, and giving up on it.
But what do we often miss?
How can we continually better our relationship without making constant changes?
One word.
It’s a simple word. But practicing the word can make a huge difference in your relationship with your spouse.
The word?
Wonder.
Perhaps you don’t remember what the word ‘wonder’ actually means. The word can be used as a Noun or a Verb – remember your high school English class?
- Noun – a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful or unexpected
- Verb – to be curious to know something
When was the last time you looked at your spouse with wonder?
With surprise mingled with admiration?
If you are working together in a business, in addition to being married, it is even more important to practice wonder with your spouse.
Do you look at the business expertise and experience of your spouse with ‘surprise mingled with admiration?’ Or is your more regular look one of contentment, comfort, or even frustration?
We started our business together so we could be…together. And because we are together so much, it is easy to fall into a daily drudge of getting the work done. His tasks. My tasks. Sometimes even together tasks. We aren’t immune to the frustrations or the mundaneness of our life at times.
But when I stop to wonder about Marc, I can say that I truly admire his business abilities and intellect. Not just regarding business, but just how his mind works about things.
Over the years, we really have started thinking more alike than ever before – the two really are becoming one! But there are things I will never fully understand and Marc’s mind just breezes through those things with barely a thought.
And it does make me wonder.
That makes me grateful for him and for what we have.