Tag: losing

Love is a daily decision. That’s one of the key things I learned after talking to couples who improved their marriage through adversity. Each day we have choices to make about how we spend our time, what kind of effort we put in the marriage, and whether we offer a kind word or a complaint.

In my research, I wanted to talk to couples who didn’t just get through everyday life making good choices, but had unique challenges or tests. What is different about the couples who become stronger when faced with adversity compared with the couples that falter? How can some marriages survive repeated crises, while others that seem fortunate don’t stand the test of time? That’s what I set out to learn and share in my book, First Kiss to Lasting Bliss: Hope & Inspiration for Your Marriage.

The Way is gained by daily loss. ~ Chuang Tzu Over a lifetime we will experience many losses. In every stage of life, losing, leaving and letting go are essential parts of our ever-changing world. We cannot save ourselves, nor those we love, from the sorrow that is part of life. Family members die, friends drop away, cherished possessions are lost.

See Jimmy pitch the ball. See Dick hit the ball. See Dick run to first base. See Dick get called out. See Dick’s parents yell at the umpire. See other parents join in. See Dick walk back to the bench and hide his head in his hands. See Dick’s dad yell to Dick telling him to "Be a man, and suck it up."

For those of you involved in youth sports, you may know that these occurrences are not uncommon. According to a survey of parents, 84 percent of them have seen violence in sports, and 45 percent of kids report that they have experienced comments and abuse of some sort.