Monday, July 10, 2023

Real Life Marriage: Sweet Time


We recently returned from a twelve day vacation. It's the longest time we have had together since our honeymoon four years ago. Granted, we spent five days of it traveling, but the other seven days we just spent together, at home, doing (mostly) our routine (just without our jobs) We didn't get along the whole time. We actually had multiple conflicts. We did enjoy one another's presence, though, and it was sweet. It was not just good for us. We needed it.

I used to disregard some of the marriage recommendations I saw. Things like taking a week long trip every two year seemed superfluous, unneeded (Marquina, 2022). But after the intensity of our most recent season of life, I think I get it, or at least I get it more. While we did travel some these twelve days, what we needed most was time. We needed time to relax and unwind. We needed time to just be together, sometimes with no agenda. We needed time to get some house projects done. We needed time to be in the same place together, to remember that we are in this together. We needed time to dream.

Resources to travel are not always available. Twelve days off work are not always available. Usually, though, there is some time we can take. Time we might not want to take. Time that it might hurt us a bit monetarily to take, but time nonetheless. If you have it, I encourage you to take it. Prioritize it. The rewards are sweet, even if imperfect.

Reference:

Marquina, S. (2022, August 4.) Couples say the key to a happy, successful marriage is the '2-2-2 rule.' iHeart. https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-08-04-couples-say-the-key-to-a-happy-successful-marriage-is-the-2-2-2-rule/

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