Showing posts with label Meyers-Briggs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meyers-Briggs. Show all posts

Friday, March 10, 2023

Real Life Marriage: Let Him Dream.

"I learned to let him dream," my mom told me. I listened as she shared what she learned in her Love and Respect group at church. I didn't quite understand at the time, but somehow, I filed that comment away. Now that I am married, I understand more of what she meant.

My husband, just like my dad, is a perceiver. He likes to think, and talk, about possibilities. Many times, he has no intent of doing anything with his knowledge. He just likes to share. Really, it is an honor that he shares. He shares because this is part of his life. He shares because he can trust me.

I can tend to get all bent out of shape when he shares, especially when he shares about things that are beyond our reach. How would we ever afford that gadget, or that vacation? Where in the world would we find time to do that hobby? The thing is that he often doesn't intend to do those things. I'm over-reacting to him sharing. And you know what? That spoils the moment.

My husband supports my dreams (most of them having to do with running). Sure, as a judging personality, I rarely reach for big things. I want concrete goals. But still, he's the one getting up ridiculously early in the morning to drive me to races, carting my things around, etc. He puts up with my silly celebrations and random cooking projects. If he supports me, I can surely support him!

Supporting my husband's dreams most of the time just means listening, putting down what I'm doing to really hear him out. Most of the time, that's what he wants. Sometimes, yes, he asks for resources, but that is few and far between, and he respects our budget. I am thankful for that.

"Let him dream," my mom said. Yep, let him dream. It's part of marriage (at least my marriage). It's part of being a supportive wife. It's part of moving towards my "dream" of having a more satisfying, fulfilling, faithful, God-honoring marriage.

Monday, October 22, 2018

Life is Hard.


I was somehow under the impression that life would get easier at some point. That at some point, I could just celebrate and have some sadness lingering over me. Maybe I wouldn't arrive. But I could at least be content and not want more. Nope! Life is hard. It just is.

I'm an ISFJ, and I feel things deeply. I feel it when a kid gets removed from their parents. I feel it when coworkers argue. I feel it when friends and family members are struggling. I feel it when the seasons change. I feel it when the skies are gray. I feel it when the country is in a state of upheaval from the latest terrorist act, school shooting, or court case.

But I also feel the joy when adoptive homes open. When people reconcile. When family and friends succeed. When hopes springs anew. When the sun shine. When there is redemption. 

Life is bittersweet. And as Brene Brown says, “We can't selectively numb emotion. Numb the dark and you numb the light.” I am finding that to be true. I can't feel the joy without feeling the pain. I can't feel the gladness without feeling the sorrow. I can't celebrate without having wept.

So if I'm going to live life, I guess I'm going to have to accept that life is hard. Because I have to see that life is hard to feel that life is also good and worth living.

Friday, August 18, 2017

Easy Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

A few Saturdays ago, I found myself in need of a creative outlet. It had been an exhausting week and my brain just needed to make something new. (I read this week that the best self-care tasks for my personality type, ISFJ, are simple tasks that provide sensory input. Hello, cooking!) I wanted to recreate my favorite chocolate applesauce stove-top oatmeal in baked form, but couldn't quite find a recipe. So I adapted this one from The Conscientious Eater.



These oats were soft, fluffy, and popped right out of the greased pan. If you're looking for a make-ahead or on-the-go breakfast, this might be it!


Ingredients:


1 c. quick oats
2 T cocoa
1 T ground flax meal
1/4 t baking powder
1/8 t salt
1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
1/4 c milk of choice (I used Almond Breeze's almond coconut blend)


Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a small loaf pan. (I used coconut oil.)
3. Stir together dry ingredients, and then add wet.
4. Pour mixed ingredients into the loaf pan and smooth with the back of the spoon.
5. Bake for twenty minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean.