That may seem like a strange question. I mean habits are just what we do over and over – aren’t they? Well, sort of. Things that we do repetitively can certainly become habits. And we all have certain bad habits that we would like to break; things like biting our fingernails, eating pop tarts for…
DetailsNow your first thought maybe – “Uh, we are both from the U.S., so what are you talking about?” Believe it or not, the communication between you and your spouse is actually impacted by your different homelands or your different families of origin. As I once heard Pastor Doug Olson explain, much like learning a…
DetailsHave you ever been asked a serious question that you were hesitant to answer because it was uncomfortable? It wasn’t that you felt awkward as much as answering it would call into question something you said or did. My dad was a master at this. He would say or do something that was hurtful or…
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When thinking about play, you may relegate it to children. I mean, as an adult, I don’t typically get down on the floor and play with trucks, cars, and transformers. But I certainly do when my grandkids are around. But how about when someone knocks on your door (figuratively speaking) and invites you to play.…
DetailsRelationship Tips Tuesdays Let’s face it – we all want to be viewed as caring and empathetic. And sometimes it is easy while other times it is an uphill battle. Perhaps your spouse or your kiddos have taken advantage of you. Or perhaps they continue to contribute to their own troublesome situations in ways that…
DetailsWhile people’s inclinations seem to be the same from generation to generation, the nuances of the differences in issues can vary. One of those issues that has changed faster than our relational insights, has been around technology – particularly cell phones. I can assure you that 20 years ago I was not dealing with this…
DetailsNormally when we think about protecting ourselves, especially our heart, we imagine that we are attempting to keep others from hurting us. The idea of “protection” conjures up pictures of our being attacked or mistreated in some manner that cause us to erect defenses that will keep us safe. And while those images are accurate,…
DetailsI was recently reminded while reading an article from Parenting with Love and Logic of the crucial nature of empathy. It is the cornerstone upon which our entire relational house is built. And, while they are primarily focused on parent’s relationships with their children, the principle applies to all relationships – especially those with our…
DetailsRecently my wife and I took a weekend to reorganize our office and the work spaces at home. As a guy who still wears some shirts from 20 years ago, I didn’t feel a strong compulsion to need to change things in our offices. However, I can’t tell you how invigorated my wife was by…
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For the past year, I have been on a declutter quest. You see, I have lived in our current house for over 25 years – the longest I have lived in one place. And living in the same place for this long, I have accumulated stuff. Things I haven’t used in years but always tend…
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