In our previous tip we spoke about the importance of a weekly date and how to incorporate it into our lives. This week we will deal with coming home. This may seem to be of minimal significance, but from my experience, this tip is of utmost importance.
My weekly tip to you is:
Come home with a smile!
Coming home is a sensitive and very important moment. When you come home, you expect to be able to relax and to feel that you are in a welcome environment. The very expression, "coming home" conjures up an automatic sense of warmth and affection. We all need a place where we can feel relaxed and unwind from the various encounters we have had throughout the day.
But let’s think about the person who is at home at the moment we come in. They have also been through various experiences and may be waiting for someone to share their feelings and frustrations with, who will appreciate the efforts that they have exerted throughout their day. They may even expect some help and to be relieved of the responsibility and monotony of caring for the children or doing endless chores around the house.
This state of conflicting interests takes thinking about. Just being conscious of it may not be enough to actively solve the problem, but even so, it will make it easier for personal and mutual understanding. Obviously, if you do take steps to improve the moment, it will help even more. A smile, a warm word of affection and glance of appreciation can make a wealth of difference!So, take coming home as a moment of challenge!
Remember, marriage is a wonderful opportunity for giving, so it’s important to make a conscious effort to understand your spouse’s needs and to try your best to make him/her happy.
An important exercise that can help you to improve the quality of "coming home" is to take a quiet moment alone and imagine how your spouse feels at the moment you walk in the door and how you can make simple changes in your behavior that will help your spouse feel more comfortable as you come in.
Simple changes like these are all it takes to make married life more agreeable for everyone! So, go ahead and try it!
This article was translated from the original Hebrew by Rahel Gordon, an experienced writer and translator. You can view my JobShuk profile here