A lesson from my grandmother, Margaret: she is patient, kind, proper and full of LOVE.
My grandmother is the type of person that doesn’t say much, but you can tell she’s always thinking. And when she does say something, it has weight and you want to listen. As a child, I can recall hearing her say the sweetest things and rarely becoming upset about anything. She baked cookies, took me for walks, taught me to ride horses and so much more!
At the time she made me feel like I was the only thing in her life that existed. She was always in my corner, rooting me on and showering me with unconditional love and praise.
Fast-forward 30 years and I strive to be like her every day. But I also recognize that she probably wasn’t the best at fostering a loving relationship with my grandfather.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in our children and grandchildren. It’s natural. But we can’t lose sight of our significant others. They have needs too, and I suspect that we have all been guilty of neglecting them to an extent – especially when we consider the miles that we’d go for those little ones.
So, for the sake of a healthy relationship, try these simple daily ingredients and enjoy the results (that’s right, every day!):
- Offer a random compliment (you look nice, not thank you for taking out the trash).
- Offer a gesture of love during a time that you wouldn’t normally (a smooch as you sit down for dinner, coffee in bed, or a brief morning cuddle before rushing to the shower for work).
- Weekly, or at least bi-weekly, schedule a date night (with or without friends, appetizers at happy hour, a walk in the park, or a matinee movie) – but do it together, and be able to count on it happening.
Do these simple things, if you’re not already, and enjoy the results. It’s easy to slip into a routine and forget about the emotional needs of our significant other. It’s also easy to remind them with these simple ingredients that we love them and appreciate them, and that we haven’t forgotten about them while we bustle about through life.
by Jamie Leigh for Invitation Only Matchmaking