I have a pool in my back yard, and I can’t stand seeing it dirty. So when leaves fall in or dirt builds up on the bottom, I like to go outside and clean it. The toughest part is scrubbing the pool’s walls, which would be impossible to do without the giant brush on a pole that I have. It even reaches the corners.
The right tool can make a job easier and leave you feeling more satisfied. That’s true for pools and for marriages. Making your marriage look and feel its best requires the right tools as well. Here are 4 tools your spouse wishes you used more.
1. Your Calendar
You can tell a lot about what matters to a person by looking at his or her calendar. How often is your spouse on yours? We log meetings, appointments, and work-related events all the time. Make room for your spouse. Prioritize your husband or wife and make sure you’re carving out time for one another. Your relationship will suffer without consistent time together without distractions.
2. Your Camera
Susan and I went on a trip to Italy with friends last year, and it was so much fun. I think we took six million photos. It was picturesque, so it was easy to put the camera to work. But there’s no reason we shouldn’t capture everyday moments together, too. They pass so quickly. Take the photos today. Each one preserves a memory.
3. Your Suitcase
Traveling together is fun. It can be a dream vacation or a day trip to another part of your city or state that you’ve never experienced, but getting away together is a relationship builder. Fancy trips are great, but there are also many budget-friendly ways to get outside the four walls of your home that don’t require plane tickets.
4. Your Pencil
I like to write love notes to Susan. They are little reminders that I care. Write to your spouse, even if you’re not a wordsmith. Buy cards and hide them in his or her glovebox. Leave notes around the house. Give each other the gift of words, especially if your spouse’s love language is words of affirmation. What this really says is that you care enough to take time out of your day to write something to your spouse.
What is your favorite marriage tool? Share in a comment.
