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How Green was 2008: Analysts Versus Reality

Back in the beginning of 2008, or even at the end of 2007, analysts were predicting a banner year for going green in the home. Homeowners were said to be very conscious of reducing the energy footprints of their homes and avoiding using common chemicals that may be unhealthy. Even publications such as the Old Farmer’s Almanac got into the act with green predictions saying that there would be a rapid transition to green building. They quote the American Institute of architects that say that 90 percent of home owners would pay an extra $5,000 for an energy-efficient house. The … Continue reading →

All Marriages are Cross-Cultural

When we think of a cross-cultural relationship or marriage, we usually think of two people who come from different countries or different races. Yet, within every household, every family, there is a way of doing things that will be different from the family next door, the family across the street, the family across town or across the country. Every marriage has its cultural differences. The Family’s Power Structure They say that sometimes, we all have different expectations. Sometimes our expectations are unreasonable and sometimes they are just lofty. But the truth is, our expectations are based on our own perceptions … Continue reading →

When You’re Angry At God or The Universe

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong – Mahatma Gandhi Whether you are religious or spiritual, you likely believe in some reality that transcends the limitations of our mortal coil. So much of what happens to us may seem out of our control – an illness in the family, being laid off from a job, allergies, caring more for someone than that someone cares for us. It can be easy to get angry at the universe or the Divine and to close yourself off from any possibilities of happiness. For some of us, it can … Continue reading →

The Triangle of Love

What is the triangle of love? In a marriage, the triangle of love is the foundation that helps a couple weather the better or worse that they swear to in their marriage vows. So what is the triangle of love? It’s comprised from: Compassion Passion Forgiveness Compassion is the emotion that allows us to empathize and sympathize. When we love someone, we feel their pain and we want to make their pain better. Compassion teaches us to listen carefully and not to leap to judgment. Compassion teaches us to see things beyond our own point of view and to truly … Continue reading →

Marriage Communication: How to Forgive

It is said that to forgive is divine, yet for many of us forgiveness is seems to be more than divine – it seems to be impossible. While the following may sound like a platitude, there is a great deal of truth in it. When we forgive those that do us wrong, we’re helping ourselves to achieve a sense of personal peace. We forgive those that trespass and ask forgiveness for our own trespasses – it’s good sense for our hearts, our minds and our marriages. How to Forgive A study at Stanford University found that people who forgive are … Continue reading →

To Love and To Cherish: Not To Be In Love and To Court

Are you in love with your spouse? Seriously, think about the question and then think about this one: is your spouse in love with you? Now, while you have those questions and answers in your mind, think about these questions: Do you love your spouse? Does your spouse love you? I would hazard a guess that the answer to the first two questions is no and the second two questions is yes. Now realize, this is very subjective post today because I was thinking about something I heard on television earlier. (Yes, I know, I shouldn’t fall asleep watching television … Continue reading →

Ten Tips to Building a Strong, Smart Marriage

Everything in life is based on perception. Our perceptions of the world around us suggest how we handle everything from our interpersonal relationships to how much faith we put into our fellow man. Positive experiences breed positive viewpoints, so forth and so on. So here are ten tips to help you make better choices and decisions about your marriage and how you let perception affect you. Our interpersonal differences and disagreements are not the problem; how we cope with them determines whether our not we will be successful in our marriage Our marriages are more important than we may initially … Continue reading →