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Should I get married? 9 questions to ask yourself.

Posted on April 15, 2013 in categories: Marriage Prep/Engagement and Marriage Q&A. 0 Comments

Should I get married? Yes! I love him so much! I can’t imagine life without her…

Marriage is a big commitment–in fact, it’s one of the biggest commitments we can make in our lives. Is he/she “the one”? Are you ready?

Ultimately, no one can answer that but yourself. Not your parents, not friends, not marriage experts or writers like me. Here are 9 important questions to ask yourself that can help you answer the question “Should I get married?” Many of these are based on statistics that predict successful marriage or divorce. Continue reading ‘Should I get married? 9 questions to ask yourself.’

Categories: Marriage Prep/Engagement and Marriage Q&A

The 40 most romantic quotes about marriage

Posted on April 11, 2013 in categories: Just For Fun, Naomi and Romance. 0 Comments

Many wise and beautiful things have been said about marriage over the years. Enjoy these romantic quotes about marriage that are truly marriage-positive. Quotes about marriage are great for anniversaries, wedding toasts, or ever-day surprises. Try copying one on a nice piece of paper and leaving it in your spouse’s car!

“Marriage: Love is the reason. Lifelong friendship is the gift. Kindness is the cause. Til’ death do us part is the length.” -Fawn Weaver

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” -Mignon McLaughlin

“To find someone who will love you for no reason, and to shower that person with reasons, that is the ultimate happiness.” -Robert Brault

“A great spouse loves you exactly as you are. An extraordinary spouse helps you grow; inspires you to be, do and give your very best.” -Fawn Weaver Continue reading ‘The 40 most romantic quotes about marriage’

Categories: Just For Fun, Naomi and Romance

The increasing danger of reconnecting with ex lovers online

Posted on April 8, 2013 in categories: Infidelity, Marriage in the News, Marriage Q&A, Naomi and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Social media is wonderful for keeping in touch with friends and family. At the same time, there is one category of person that you should not be reconnecting with-ex flames. Facebook has made it incredibly easy to indulge in nostalgia and look up people from the past. The Australian magazine The Age recently delved into the near-epidemic of social media-inspired affairs with the article “First love, the second time around.”

Nostalgia drives social media searches

Most people do not reach out to past romantic partners consciously looking for an affair–yet this is what often happens. Old flames hold strong sway over our hearts, triggering powerful and deep-set emotions related to desire, regret and attachment. Relationships that occurred during teenage years seem to be especially powerful. Continue reading ‘The increasing danger of reconnecting with ex lovers online’

Categories: Infidelity, Marriage in the News, Marriage Q&A, Naomi and Uncategorized

Want a good marriage? Don’t call your spouse a “Ball and Chain”

Posted on April 4, 2013 in categories: As seen on FOX News, Marriage in the News, Naomi and Positivity. 2 Comments

Thanks to Stu and Lisa Gray of the Stupendous Marriage Show for turning me on to this topic! Check out their podcast for some smart commentary.

Negative stereotypes about marriage are so pervasive in our society that it is almost impossible to escape them. Name almost any TV show with married couples and you’ll find at least one example of the “ball and chain” metaphor. Marriage is the end of fun. It is the end of sex. It means constant bickering and being tied to someone who you can’t stand for the rest of your life.

Media and popular culture certainly perpetuate these damaging stereotypes, and, at the same time, we are all just as guilty ourselves. Every time we complain about or badmouth our spouses to others, we perpetuate marriage stereotypes and hurt our own marriages. Continue reading ‘Want a good marriage? Don’t call your spouse a “Ball and Chain”’

Categories: As seen on FOX News, Marriage in the News, Naomi and Positivity

Tips for dealing with difficult people

Posted on April 2, 2013 in categories: Anger, Communication, Emotional Regulation, Naomi and Positivity. 0 Comments

Dealing with difficult people is something we all have to face. Luckily, many of the skills we us to make our marriages run smoothly and diffuse tension can also be used for dealing with difficult people. Here are the top 5 Power of Two golden rules for conflict and communication in marriage that will help you in any situation, whether at work, with friends, or family members.

Remember: it’s not about you. Only we control our emotions–no one can “make” someone else angry, upset, or irritated. So while you may have made a mistake that was regrettable and caused problems (and if so, recognize and acknowledge it), if someone becomes angry, guilts you, or treats you poorly, that is their problem. If they are angry, that is their problem. Continue reading ‘Tips for dealing with difficult people’

Categories: Anger, Communication, Emotional Regulation, Naomi and Positivity

The 10 best love poems ever written

Posted on March 28, 2013 in categories: Communication, Just For Fun, Naomi and Romance. 0 Comments

Sometimes nothing quite expresses your feelings as well as a good love poem. Sure, there are some sappy love poems out there. But there are also beautiful, poignant and profound love poems–after all, it’s been written about since people could write! These are some of the most well-known and my personal favorite love poems. There is a mix of modern, romantic and classical poems.

Love poems are great to share with your spouse on special occasions, such as anniversary or birthday. Almost even better is a surprise, as any-day romantic gesture! Try hand-copying one of these on a pretty piece of paper and leaving it on your spouse’s pillow or in her lunch bag in the morning. Small, sweet acts like this helps keep each other on you minds and put the spark back in your relationship! Continue reading ‘The 10 best love poems ever written’

Categories: Communication, Just For Fun, Naomi and Romance

Workplace stress is killing our marriages

Posted on March 22, 2013 in categories: Marriage and Kids, Marriage and Your Health, Marriage in the News and Naomi. 0 Comments

America has the highest divorce rate in the world. We also have one of the most stressed out and over-worked workforces in the world. More and more, I believe this is not a coincidence.

Here are some sobering statistics about our dysfunctional relationship with work:

85.8 % of males and 66.5 % of females work over 40 hours/week.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), “Americans work 137 more hours per year than Japanese workers, 260 more hours per year than British workers, and 499 more hours per year than French workers.” Continue reading ‘Workplace stress is killing our marriages’

Categories: Marriage and Kids, Marriage and Your Health, Marriage in the News and Naomi

Blog Roll: The Best 10 Marriage Blogs

Posted on March 19, 2013 in categories: Blogs, Naomi and Self Help. 4 Comments

One of the most important parts of giving advice is also knowing how to take it! The Power of Two marriage blog reads, reblogs and interacts with some awesome other marriage blogs across the internet. These writers give great advice and many are also licensed therapists or counselors. Others are simply very wise, insightful, and delightful writers. But don’t take my word for it–check them out for yourself!

1. Resolution not conflict is Dr. Susan Heitler’s popular Psychology Today blog. In addition to marriage and relationships, Dr. Susan writes about other areas of psychology such as mental health and novel therapy techniques. Continue reading ‘Blog Roll: The Best 10 Marriage Blogs’

Categories: Blogs, Naomi and Self Help

Wedding proposal fail ends in 4 arrests

Posted on March 12, 2013 in categories: Marriage in the News, Marriage Prep/Engagement, Media Mondays, Naomi and Weddings. 0 Comments

In the history of how to not propose to your girlfriend, this wedding proposal fail wins a gold star for complete ridiculousness:

All was well along the 10 Freeway in West Covina around lunchtime on January 7th. That was, until approximately 200 to 250 motorcyclists stopped simultaneously, blocking all lanes and surrounding a bike with a man and his girlfriend. After his girlfriend–clearly confused–got off the motorcycle, it released a giant puff of pink smoke, and the driver got down on one knee to propose. She said yes, some bikes did wheelies, and they hugged. Continue reading ‘Wedding proposal fail ends in 4 arrests’

Categories: Marriage in the News, Marriage Prep/Engagement, Media Mondays, Naomi and Weddings

Online dating, online marriage?

Posted on March 6, 2013 in categories: Marriage and religion, Marriage in the News, Marriage Prep/Engagement, Romance and Weddings. 0 Comments

It’s not unusual for spouses to have met online these days and the internet has made keeping long-distance love alive infinitely easier. I’ve heard numerous stories of long dating periods done solely online. But what about that next step: getting married digitally, via Skype?

It’s not exactly a movement, but online marriage is happening.

Is it legal to get married online?

Proxy marriage, in which one spouse is absent, is actually a very old practice. Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI were technically married remotely in Marie’s home country of Austria. She later made the trek to France and they had another public ceremony. These days a proxy marriage is rare and mostly occurs among deployed soldiers who are concerned about leaving their significant other without benefits in case of death. In most other cases, U.S. law requires both parties to be physically present in order to legally wed. Continue reading ‘Online dating, online marriage?’

Categories: Marriage and religion, Marriage in the News, Marriage Prep/Engagement, Romance and Weddings