Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

SuccessfulMatchCentral.com - the best dating site for plus-sized singles!
SuccessfulMatchCentral.com - the best site if you are loking for that special date!

Give-and Take: Recipe for Success in Marriage?


A woman once visited a counselor to ask a question about her marriage. I have a funny feeling that you might not be especially impressed with the answer she was given.

All the same, I'll take my chances. I think my shoulders are broad enough.

I stand by the counselor's response 100%.

The questioner (let's call her Jane) was married to a divorcee. Her husband (John) had to pay a certain sum of money every month to his previous wife as alimony, or whatever.

Sticky patch

He had just started a new business and was passing through a financial sticky patch. The obligation to his ex-wife, on top of everything else, was putting John under a lot of pressure.

Jane was a working person and gladly helped to pay the family debts. She never thought twice about it. But could she be expected to contribute in this case?

Surely, reasoned Jane, her husband's financial commitment to somebody to whom he had been married previously had nothing to do with her? Yes, she and John were life partners and she was happy to share all his burdens.

But even for what happened in a previous life, so to speak? Wasn't that going too far?

"I must confess I don't really understand your question," the counselor gently told Jane after listening intently to her dilemma.

"You and John are husband and wife. John has a debt. He's struggling to pay it. What difference does it make what the debt is for? It's a debt, period!"

The counselor smiled warmly at Jane before she continued.

"His problems are your problems. You're in this together. Why on earth shouldn't you help pay the debt? If, after all, it's difficult for you to accept this, it must be that there's some deeper problem in your marriage..."

And that's it.

Don't hit the roof!

Now, it's important not to misunderstand the counselor, or me. I don't want your blood pressure to hit the roof! We have to keep cool heads and put everything in the proper perspective.

First of all, she wasn't implying, of course, that John now had a licence to sit back, put his legs up, and meditate blissfully about the higher meaning of life, while his dear and ever obliging spouse worked like a donkey to pay the price of his past.

Not at all. I should think that's pretty obvious, but I have to stress it just in case.

Secondly, when we talk about husband and wife being full partners in the business of living, about sharing each other's burdens - financial or otherwise - no less than each other's joys, we are not saying for one moment that either party must contribute more than is reasonable.

In the case of our story, Jane was a high-earning professional. In other instances, a wife may bring in little or no income, for any of a number of reasons. It may not be desirable that she be working at all.

And not only money!

But that's hardly the point. We're talking of quality, rather than quantity. One can only do what one can, but it's the real desire to help that counts. And contributing doesn't only mean money.

I'll let you in on a little secret. I don't really like the use of the word PARTNER in connection with marriage.

True, we've used it up to now, for want of a better term. It does come in handy to describe a good marriage relationship, up to a point.

Yet, I hardly think that an ideal marriage relationship is a "partnership" in the same sense that we talk about a business partnership, for example. Not at all. When we think of a partnership, we usually think about a contract between two parties. A 50-50 sharing of responsibilities,or the like.

Confused?

A little confused? Well, let me explain!

Do you have children? Good! Do you love them?

"What a question!" you exclaim, "Gee, how I love them!"

"Don't you know the sacrifices we made for them? From the moment they came into this world, when they depended on us for their very survival, my spouse and I gave them our all. Just as much as a whimper from them in the middle of the night, and we were there to attend to their needs. Even now, they may disappoint us, anger us or hurt us, but we continue to cater to their every whim...Do you need any greater proof that we love them!"

So...is that why you've done so much for them - because you love them so much?

Wrong way round

Could be. But even more, I'd say it's the other way round: You love them so intensely BECAUSE you've done so much for them!

This is nothing more or less than human nature, and I think there's a great lesson for us here. We need to think about this very carefully.

Sometimes, when two people begin to think about marrying each other, they think in terms of some business arrangement. Whether they verbally express it that way or not, their minds work something along these lines:

"You have needs and I have needs. Maybe, if I satisfy yours, you will satisfy mine. You wash the dishes and I'll pay the rent. Sundays to Tuesdays I'll take out the garbage, and for the remainder of the week you will. Other duties will be divided by mutual consent. For every suit I buy, you can buy two pairs of shoes..."

If this is the marriage you want, good luck to you! It's a free world. But will you be happy? I mean, really happy? I wonder.

Many people will tell you that for a happy marriage, you need what they describe as "give-and-take".

Give and take? Nonsense! Forget about it!

What you need is "give and give." And give again. And again.

That's the royal road to happiness.

Azriel Winnett is the creator of Hodu.com - Your Communication Skills Portal. This popular website helps you improve your communication and relationship skills in your business or professional life, in the family unit and on the social scene.


MORE RESOURCES:

William & Kate - Royal Wedding

Stephenville resident has lifelong fascination with the Queen, Royal Family - Stephenville Georgian


Stephenville Georgian

Stephenville resident has lifelong fascination with the Queen, Royal Family
Stephenville Georgian
In addition to watching weddings and other events on television, Sarah has kept upwith the Royal Family by collecting books, magazines and other royal-themed memorabilia. "I watched the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton on TV while ...

'Diamond Jubilee Could Harm The Economy' - Sky News


Sky News

'Diamond Jubilee Could Harm The Economy'
Sky News
Alan Clarke, UK and eurozone economist at Scotiabank, said: "I expect a drag on growth of at least as much as during the Kate and William wedding, and possibly more. "The royal wedding fell around Easter, when people normally take time off work.
Canadians honoured on Queen's diamond jubileeToronto Sun
No Jubilee for republicans – or royalistsSpiked
It's the Queen's 60th Anniversary: Why Is Britain Still a Monarchy?The Atlantic
Scotsman -Spenborough Guardian -National Post
all 2,506 news articles »

Trouble In Paradise For Prince William and Kate? - Entertainmentwise


Entertainmentwise

Trouble In Paradise For Prince William and Kate?
Entertainmentwise
The honeymoon phase is over for Prince William and Kate Middleton with claims the two have been frequently arguing. The Duke and Duchess Of Cambridge, whose fairy-tale wedding captured the world last year, are said to be having problems in their ...
Prince William first fight with KateGreat New Movies
Prince William and Kate Middleton had their first big fightMJB Star
Kate Middleton And Prince William Have Nasty FightCelebrity Dirty Laundry
OK! Magazine -PerezHilton.com -Toronto Star
all 241 news articles »

A Rogue's Romance - San Francisco Chronicle


San Francisco Chronicle

A Rogue's Romance
San Francisco Chronicle
Around this time last year, a vodka company approached me, asking if I would create a cocktail that would be appropriate to hoist in honor of the wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton. I was born in the United Kingdom, and I've always ...

People in the news - UPI.com


UPI.com

People in the news
UPI.com
Visitors from around the world are expected to arrive in London this week for the royal wedding of HRH Prince William and Kate Middleton, which will take place on April 29, 2011. UPI/ David Silpa By United Press International BEN GAZZARA: Actor Ben ...

and more »

100 Episodes of Gossip - Suffolk Voice


100 Episodes of Gossip
Suffolk Voice
The Royal Wedding of Prince Louis and Blair Waldorf could have rivaled that of Prince William and Kate Middleton, secrets were revealed and major plot twists occurred. Since the start of their love three seasons ago, 'Gossip' fans have followed the ...

and more »

Is Pippa Middleton Loved Up with George Percy?! - Gather Celebs News Channel


Entertainmentwise

Is Pippa Middleton Loved Up with George Percy?!
Gather Celebs News Channel
It hasn't been a year since the Royal Wedding yet, but while Kate looks after her new puppy and William reports for duty in the Falklands, it's Pippa Middleton who is stealing the headlines! The latest reports suggest Pippa and George Percy, ...
Punter bets on Earl Percy marrying Pippa MiddletonSunday Sun
Royal bridesmaid reportedly in serious relationship with George PercyEntertainmentwise
Pippa Middleton dating rich young nobleNew York Daily News
Gather.com
all 113 news articles »

Diamond Jubilee: How the Queen is making Kate Middleton great - Mirror.co.uk


stv.tv

Diamond Jubilee: How the Queen is making Kate Middleton great
Mirror.co.uk
Nothing could have told the Queen more clearly how important Kate Middleton was going to be to the Royal Family. It was clear that the wedding of commoner Kate to her grandson Prince William had inspired the nation – and beyond, as two billion people ...
Cocker Spaniel puppy for Duchess of Cambridge and Prince WilliamTelegraph.co.uk
Kate Middleton delights and impresses the Queenstv.tv
Kate Middleton is 'Hat Person of the Year'Emirates 24/7
USA TODAY -Detroit Free Press
all 368 news articles »

Puppy loves grips Prince William and Kate Middleton - Toronto Star


HULIQ

Puppy loves grips Prince William and Kate Middleton
Toronto Star
Thestar.com More about Royal Wedding» Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge were spotted walking along a beach in Wales apparently enjoying the solitude. But what's this? Something black and furry nipping at their wellies-covered heels.
Kate Middleton always working out to stay thin, exercise best way to lose weightHULIQ
After WE, Madonna Wants To Make A Kate Middleton/Prince William RomanceCrushable
Turning 30 easy for Kate Middleton thanks to Royal Family birthday partyGreen Celebrity Network
Tempo
all 126 news articles »

William and Kate's travel souvenirs: snow goggles, Vegemite and rubble - The Guardian


The Guardian

William and Kate's travel souvenirs: snow goggles, Vegemite and rubble
The Guardian
In the case of one individual who bumped into Prince William on a tour of Australia last year, it was a jar of Vegemite, the local equivalent of Marmite. When William went on to Canada with his bride after the royal wedding last summer, the presents ...
William And Kate's Wedding Gifts: Strangest Presents From The CommonwealthHuffington Post
Revealed: How William and Kate got everything from snow goggles to mosquito ...National Post
Duchess' style boosts UK economyStuff.co.nz
3News NZ -Gather Celebs News Channel
all 930 news articles »

SuccessfulMatchCentral.com - the best dating site for plus-sized singles!
SuccessfulMatchCentral.com

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

DietRight.biz Domain Is For Sale - $8,500 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.DietRight.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker