Who Knew It Was So Easy

My husband does not like flowers! Well, he may not mind the ones attached to a tree or a bush, but he certainly does not like the ones he has to buy in a store.

He has told me numerous times that he thinks flowers are a waste of money because they die. I, on the other hand, love flowers. All flowers – those outside and those I put in a vase. We have had the “flower debate” many times. But since he is a free spirited man (at least with respect to floral purchase decisions), I do not get many bouquets of flowers – unless it is a very special occasion or I buy them myself. And, I am fine with that… really.

But, the other day, I got a really nice surprise… yes, you guessed it! My husband brought me flowers. He was going away for a couple of days on a business trip and knew that my looking at the flowers would make me smile (and think of him). And, he was correct – they do. In fact, I took a picture of them today and sent it to him. I thanked him and told him how much I was enjoying them.

You may be wondering why I am telling you this. Well, in smiling as I looked at the flowers, I realized that sometimes it is important to recognize what the other people in our lives want and give it to them (irrespective of what we think). We need to go beyond the obvious (yes, flowers die… duh). In reality, my appreciation of the flowers made my husband happy he got them for me. Period. Wasn’t that easy??? The flowers give me a feeling of warmth inside that far surpasses the flowers themselves, because HE did it for me. Happily for him, his gesture makes me want to do the things for him that I do not necessarily feel are important. Why? Because I want him to have the same feeling of being LOVED that I did and do.

We all know that it is easy to get in a “relationship rut.” But, often the rut happens because we forget to pay attention to our partner. Over time, we stop doing the little things that make the other person feel special. For me, this is my second (and final) marriage. I know the pitfalls that happen in a long-term relationship and am determined to not fall into them this time. So far, so good. But, no matter how long you have been with someone, it is never too late to let the person you love know it and FEEL it. You might not even realize how long lasting the effect of one small gesture has on them. It can be like a domino effect, with the effect being positive for both of you.

What are you going to do this week to appreciate that special someone in your life? Trust me, the rewards will benefit everyone.