31 Days of Change :: Day 1--Be Open To Change

Let me tell you a little story.  Once upon a time there were two young people.  One was a dapper young man looking for his place in the world and trying to establish himself as a young businessman.  The other was a striking young woman who felt too young to be grown yet too old to be careless -- careless with her heart anyway.

So one day that dapper young man and striking young woman happened (as fate would have it) to not-actually be set up on a not-real date here:

Oh, it was an adventure, alright!  Said pair hit it off immediately.  There was laughter and hilarity.  In fact, I believe it was on this ride...

...that the eventual future was carved in stone.  It was also on that ride that the pair got to witness a full-on panic attack by the other accompanying female.  Ha!

Okay, enough is enough.  Hopefully you have realized that I am sharing the story of how Bobby and I met.  We were with my first cousin and her then boyfriend.  Her boyfriend was Bobby's best friend.  The two of them would eventually marry, as would Bobby and I.  The four of us felt like we had the world conquered.  We were the Ricardo and Mertz families from "I Love Lucy".

As you know, nothing in life is perfect.  Over the years, Bobby and I both made our fair share of horrible choices and faced extremely hard times.  The other couple -- his best friend and my cousin -- divorced, which put further strain on our dynamic.  But this month Bobby and I will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary.  Of all the couples I know who married around the same time he and I did, there were times when I thought we would never be the couple who would "make it".  Yet, we are making it.  I don't really know how. 

Everyone wants to "climb the walls" in a marriage at times.

Instead of airing out our dirty laundry, I want to take the next month and really focus on what works for us.  That is why I am participating in The Nester's "31 Days Of Change".  I am doing the best I can at being Mrs. Morris, and it's obviously not an epic fail.  However, everyone can use improvement.  What do I know how to do well?  I hope by writing this down, I can define "making it" and share some insight with you.  So welcome to my topic: "31 Days to a Stronger Marriage and Happier Household."

I will not stand in judgement of anyone who has gone or will go through a divorce.  We all have our choices we must make, and there are extenuating circumstances that I may not know.  However, if you want your marriage to work, then make it work. Not married? You can still take this journey with me!  My topics planned will apply to keeping an old friendship fresh, or bettering a relationship with anyone you feel deserves better.  If you do not have kids, my topics may apply to nieces/nephews, or any young people in your life.  (Yes, even dogs, Laura!) 

Quickly today, I just want to encourage all of you to be open to change.  Do you need to alter your path?  Over the years, Bobby and I have changed, albeit unknowingly or unwillingly.  We have learned to compromise, fight fair, and stand up for ourselves.  We have learned patience with each other and have gained empathy for each other.  The end results include compassion, forgiveness, and trust.  All of these concepts and more I plan to explore in their own posts this month.  Stay with me!  The next 31 days are going to be great!