Fifty times a day
she invites you
to connect.
“Honey, look at this!”
she says, forwarding an email.
“How was work?”
she asks, leaving her desk.
“Do you have ideas for dinner?”
she ponders in the kitchen.
Every time you grunt,
ignore her,
snarl, or shrug,
you are erasing what matters
most to you.
Every time you smile,
consider, give some time,
answer courteously, and
squeeze her warmly,
you’re drawing a
portrait of your happiness.
.
.
This poem is based on this article about an interesting study on relationships!
Shawn L. Bird 
I really liked that
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Hi, Shawn. I liked the first portion, but then you leave the reader hanging at the end. Will you finish the thought? I’d like to see it if you do.
All my best,
Marie Gail
You may have seen an unfinished version? It ends with a continuation of the erase/draw metaphor.
Ah, there we go. It shows now. Weird.
Thanks, Marie!
Very nice!
We shape our relationships,
As much, if not more
With what we do not say or do.
Great post.
Ah yes, an excellent statement, Oscar!
[…] Poem inspired by Invitation written by Shawn L. Bird […]
Great poem think you really captured and illustrated the main point of the article.
Thanks.
terrific! I love the last line
Thanks!
that’s wonderful n just downright brings n appetite. ideas for dinner…uhhmm…could go on an on…*LOL*
Sorry you were reading during dinner hour…
Always, the small things are the cement of the foundation.
Indeed!
One of my wedding vows was to NEVER take her for granted. That was 40 years ago. So far, so good. 🙂
An excellent strategy for success!
Great advice. If everyone followed this advice there would be fewer divorces.
So says the study!
I like this because it reminds me of all the opportunities for connection that I have with my wife.
Lucky girl. 🙂
The little things count, I really liked this 🙂
They definitely do! I’m glad you stopped by! Thanks.
One word: amazing! 🙂
😉
I have been reading the Gottmans’ book The Seven Principals for Making Marriage Work, which was written years ago. Thanks for sharing this article; it was nice to read their current insights and their vocabulary used for describing successful relationships.
My pleasure.
I was also surprised to read that the majority of marriages fail. I thought that at least half were successful. 😦
Yeah- I think when including ‘unhappily married’ couples, it tilts things.