It was a simple enough story. Too simple, one could argue. A farmer in Wales was concerned about the decline in numbers of red kites, which happens to be their national bird. Which is to say that kites are to them what eagles are to us.

 

Thirty years ago he made the effort to leave tasty morsels of their favorite foods on his land. Slowly word got out, and there was a steady return of kites to the area. Now there are thousands that swing by for a meal each week. 

 

There was no mention of the rest of this man's routine. Surely he had responsibilities, a family, and any number of the usual calamities that pester farmers trying to eek out a living. Yet he made the effort to remember to feed the birds. 

 

A friend was talking about her marriage. A dozen years ago, affection was in short supply. But she kept nurturing the relationship. Brag time, little get aways, regular dates. Now their relationship is thriving. 

 

Willard Harley wrote a book called His Needs Her Needs, that swoops in on this strategy. His premise is that any couple who invest time each week in finding ways to please their partner will be "divorce proof". To be honest, when I heard him speak years ago at a conference I was annoyed. He seemed to gloss over such factors as where to find the surplus hours in a busy schedule. At the time I had a bunch of little kids at home and just keeping my head above water was all I could manage. But his presentation did influence me.

 

Funny how you can be annoyed and still absorb the message.