A friend told me that she is staying true to her New Year's resolution. She committed to giving her husband a compliment every day all year. The rules were that if she missed a day she had to make it up later. At first it was easy, and her husband never got tired of hearing it. Sometimes it felt a tad contrived, but apparently he did not mind.
This month she had some catching up to do and spent half an hour on the porch with him just dishing out positivity. It was somewhat Pollyannaish but that was fine with her. He ate it up.
Then recently she found herself offering them freely, not as part of the daily requirement. That felt great! She did not even need credit.
One of the prerequisites of offering appreciation is you have to look closely. Unless your spouse is a Nobel Peace
Prize winner, many of the sweetest accomplishments are no bigger than a dewdrop.
"I am glad you drew little pictures with our grandchildren."
"Thank you for cheering me up when I got home last night discouraged from work."
"It was dear to see your smile when you walked in the door."
It is possible to feel those sparks of gratitude and say nothing about it. A flower is beautiful whether or
not you notice. But taking a picture of it, or framing it in words does both the chrysanthemum and the husband a service.
The person enjoying the picture, or the wife speaking her heart are blessed too.
