• Relationship Preparation

    Work on Yourself Before Getting Into a Relationship

    I love romance and everything that goes with it. Hallmark movies. Romance novels. Rom-Coms. Oh yes, I love Rom-Coms. But. And this is a BIG but. These purveyors of romance all stop at the best part – the essential part. The actual relationship! I worry sometimes that too much emphasis is placed on the wedding day, but not the marriage itself. Seriously, one spans one day; the other is the rest of your life. Wouldn’t it make sense to prepare for your future relationship now? No relationship will be perfect because it’s made up of imperfect humans. But, everyone is worthy of love regardless of their self-esteem or baggage. We…

  • Date Night

    Date Night For Music Lovers

      Music and love have been intertwined for thousands of years, each mutually developing the other. That’s an amazing amount of amazingness! Speaking of amazing, how about a date night for music lovers? The relationship between music and love is not a new phenomenon. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that music had healing properties to cure illnesses. Those Europeans. They’re smart! Today, science backs this up. When you hear a song you like, your brain rewards you with dopamine, “the happy hormone.” Songs that release dopamine more intensely feel sexier and more romantic. Makes sense to me! Have you ever listened to that sad song you love to hate…

  • Communication in Marriage,  Relationship Advice

    Love is a battlefield. But it doesn’t have to be.

    Love is a battlefield. There. I said it. But it doesn’t always need to be. Is it annoying when your partner throws their socks on the floor next to the laundry basket every night? Sure, maybe. Is that as bad as their tendency to speak poorly about you to their friends? Almost certainly not. Some issues in a relationship merit attention, even serious discussion with your partner; others don’t. The difficulty arises when you have to decipher between the two. The internet is full of specific lists counseling us on all the things we must talk about and get right in our relationships. The fact of the matter is, I…

  • Life Advice,  Relationship Advice

    How To Stop Feeling Anxious Fast

    It was April 2020, and my husband and I followed our usual morning routine of eating breakfast, watching the news, and getting ready for work. Suddenly, I started feeling sick; I was dizzy and breathing hard. I was just overwhelmed with anxiety. The news endlessly talked of the new virus and the number of cases and deaths. I was worried about my aging and vulnerable parents. On top of that, I was a key player on an important project at work, and a leader a ka-jillion levels above me had looked me in the eye the previous day and told me not to $#*& it up. I’m accustomed to pressure,…