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Wow…we can’t believe it’s already March! Time truly does fly when you’re having fun. February was a very busy but truly fun month for us. In fact, just this past weekend, we had a lot of fun at the 8 on Your Side Health and Fitness Expo. We had the privilege of having a booth at the expo to promote something very near and dear to our hearts…relationship health (which we feel is right up there on the importance scale with one’s physical health!).
We were amazed as we watched people walk by our booth. There were so many people who are serious about their physical health and fitness…in other words, running and cycling are not just a hobby or a “have to” to them. They were actually interested and excited about exercising (like we would act at a chocolate, relationship, and/or sexuality expo)! We even learned that many of the people who came to the expo actually came from out of town to run in the Gasparilla Distance Classic 15K and 5K races! Wow!! We learned so much from being there and many of the lessons can actually be applied to relationships:
1. It takes a lot of focus and hard work
We definitely learned that this “working out” thing takes a lot of focus and hard work! The amount of hours and training that is involved..wow! And hopefully there is no surprise here…so does a relationship. It takes focus and conscious effort to work on and nurture a healthy relationship over time.
2. Persistence, dedication, and commitment pays off
We learned this from the many runners who ran in the Gasparilla races. We’re sure that lots of runners had many thoughts of quitting and giving up throughout the race, but they didn’t. They remained committed to the process and chose to forge on. This can also apply to relationships as well. When things get difficult in your relationship, do you quit or do you remain committed to working things out even if it means seeking help from a professional? The key here is that both people need to be willing and able to make individual changes to work on the relationship. (However, we definitely understand and agree that there are situations when it is actually healthier to leave an unhealthy relationship.)
3. It helps to have good equipment and supplies (“tools in your relationship tool bag”)
We saw many vendors selling exercise shoes, clothing and equipment such as the T-Roller (www.T-Roller.com) to help the athletes perform at their best. It is just as important to have healthy tools in your relationship tool bag. The tools include but are not limited to healthy communication skills, relationship empowerment tools, books, relationship coaches and counselors, and other resources to help you perform at your relational best.
4. Having a support system
Just like with exercising, it’s important to have a support system for the relationship. You and your partner are each other’s support system. You’re a team that is, hopefully, working on the same relationship goals. Since we know change is difficult, support and lots of positive reinforcement is very important. This also means being willing to seek outside support from a professional when needed.
Again, we believe that focusing on your relationship health is just as important as your personal health. Thus, this month we challenge you, if you have not already started, to start making your relationship health a priority. We wish you more connection and much love. Please feel free to contact us with topics you would like us to address.
Many blessings! Tags: Relationship Health, Relationships |
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