It seems simple enough — to tell the truth — but the reality of that is much harder than it seems it should be most days. — My dearest and I have one rule. We have a few shared agreements and understandings about how we relate and how our relationship works, but only one absolute. We always tell the truth to one another. No exceptions; no white lies; no omissions of things that could be relevant. …

The noise of life overwhelms my own rhythm. Finding the way back requires tuning into love. — They say Timing is everything! They say Do more! Accomplish more! They say Be more efficient! They say my worth depends on it They say a lot of things The pace is increasingly frantic The rhythm is a relentless pounding Yet no relief is offered for the efforts No rewards and no celebrations Always…

Something that should be simple reduces me to a swirling mess of fear and insecurity. It doesn’t have to be that way. The solution was far easier than I imagined. — I am a smart, strong, driven, successful woman. As an accomplished professional, I run an ever-expanding portfolio of high-priority initiatives in my organization and own a corporation on the side. …

His simple question leads to an important discovery about the connection between a ticking clock and love. — “What do you need, love?” It’s a simple enough question, but in all the chaos and swirl of life right now the answer was anything but simple. I hear his question behind the words. He wants to know how to show up for me, and what would make lessen the…

Is that you, my love, written in the words on those yellowed pages? — It was just a stack of dusty, old journals found in the box under my bed. Thumbing through drew me into a history that I barely recall. As the words poured from the pages into my heart, I find my hopes and dreams all spelled out with a determination to…

It showed up from nowhere and threatened all I hold dear — Powerful darkness blows in without warning A cacophony of fears and insecurities Threatens the calm of my battle-weary soul Standing at the edge of the swirling storm Torn between fascination with its power And the terror of its destructive intent Listening to the wails of my own brokenness Assaults to my…

The availability of something in your arsenal does not mean it should be used. Some choices are final. — “Oh, we never fight or argue! Our relationship is so strong, we don’t have conflict.” I call liar, liar pants-on-fire. The people who say they don’t experience conflict are likely ignoring it or trying to sweep it aside rather than dealing with the real problem at hand. My marriage could…

The truth about how he changed my life and won my heart pours out in my answer. — “Why me?” My eyes glanced at the clock on the dashboard giving my heart some relief that our trip still had many hours to go on the road. “What was it about me that made you want to make a change in your life?” The earnest tone of his question…

Unwinding the financial tangle of marriage reveals all of our fault lines. Will our intent to be amicable survive the war? — “Make sure you are on the same page about money!” It was the warning that we heard time and time again as we planned our wedding. …