Looking After Your Relationship

Before you enter into the ‘BIG COMMITMENT’ it may be a good idea to attend a Pre-marriage Education Course. Most priests and celebrants should be able to direct you to your nearest course.

Life is busy, and making time for your relationship is in direct competition with work demands, family and friends, hobbies and interests just to name a few. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right balance.

Sometimes couples put their relationship on the back burner because they think it’s something that is always going to be there. They tend to be a little on the relaxed side when it comes to looking after it. However, this isn’t good practice. I have had couples refer to their marriage as a game of football, you need to attend regular training, give 100% commitment and play fair. This is a very good analogy.

Our relationships with the people around us have a significant influence on our wellbeing and how we live. For most of us, at any given time there is one special relationship – with a partner or spouse – that affects our lives more than any other. Listed below are ideas as to how you can make time to be with your partner, they might seem simple, but a lot of the simple things make for a stronger relationship.

· Travel together to and from work

· Meet for lunch

· Set aside time for dating

· Read some books and discuss together

· Go grocery shopping together

· Have breakfast together

· Go for a walk together

· Romantic couple nights

· Find a hobby you both enjoy

· Go away over night

· Go to the movies weekly, monthly

Communication – How well do you listen?

In any conversation – especially with a loved one – it is assumed that when one person speaks the other is listening. Spouses in successful marriages learn to listen to each other with their ears, their eyes, their sense of touch. Listening is critical to effective communication and a successful marriage.

For a fun activity complete this exercise with your partner: If you have listened well over these months or years that you have known each other, you certainly should be able to list each other’s ten favourite things to do.

Working alone, list the ten things you most enjoy doing. Then list the ten things you think your partner will put on his or her list. When you are finished, share your responses with each other. Where you or your partner have guessed wrong about the other’s interests, talk more about it...and listen!