Love Those Differences!

A colleague and I were discussing marriages, and he humorously commented, "My wife and I are SO different. When I want to get something for my her, I choose something I wouldn't like, and she loves it!"

Recognizing and working through differences is an important skill in a couples relationship. It is not unusual for one person in the relationship to have a more relaxed attitude toward life and take things as they come while another person has a stronger need for a plan and goals. One wants to be spontaneous and another wants to get "the list" done before having fun or taking breaks.

Discovering that some of these differences are "normal" and finding new ways to navigate through them can significantly reduce stress. As each partner learns to appreciate the other's differences as strengths, both can develop a more satisfying and closer relationship.