Angus and our youngest daughter got our Christmas tree last week. I purchased all of the girls stocking stuffers way ahead of time. Even though our daughters are young adults, we all love the Christmas morning ritual of them opening gifts in their pillowcases. Angus’s family used pillowcases rather than…

Spiritual teachings suggest that we are all beautiful, unique expressions of one source of life force. Each of us is an emanation of that divine light. That essence cannot be understood but is felt and recognized by qualities such as love, joy, peace, and well-being. …

In a recent Rewilders’ Community webinar, we were asked to speak on death. We had a poignant conversation with many sharing their experiences related to death, grief, near-death experiences, and the lessons learned. It made me think of the Latin phrase Memento Mori, which means to “remember that you must…

Empathy is being able to understand what someone else is feeling or being able to see a situation from another person’s point of view. The capacity to have empathy for another is essential for the success of intimate relationships. …

Angus and I recently saw how to be even kinder to each other. We are experiencing a new level of patience and understanding between us. This happened after a challenging conversation where we both took what the other person was saying personally and felt hurt. …

When we want to be understood the most by our partner, we often behave in ways that make it hard for us to be understood. It is not our hurt that makes relationships hard. …

I often forget that I am living in the feeling of my thinking. In fact, I can just plain forget that I am thinking and listening to my internal narrative all day long. This invisible narrative is frequently one of pressure. When I buy into it, I feel an inner…

Clinicians and researchers Drs. John and Julie Gottman identify three universal factors that make or break relationships and predict whether couples will stay together happily or not. These factors are: Staying curious about each other. Sharing fondness and admiration. Responding to bids for connection by turning toward, rather than turning…

I didn’t realize that the gift in relationships is what you give, not what you get. Initially, it felt like I was getting a lot from my relationship with Angus. I felt loved and appreciated, and I thought he was giving me this experience. I didn’t realize that the love…