What does it take to have a good time?

 

There is a program launched by the Catholic church called "What have you done for your marriage today?" They interview folks on the street, and put up billboards. People with cameras catch pedestrians on their way to work and ask them to reflect about the attention going toward their primary relationship. 

 

I have listened to the answers and heard a recurring theme.

 

Simplicity.

 

"I made coffee for her this morning."

 

"We walked the dog together."

 

"I got him a fresh towel."

 

"We read on the couch, side by side."

 

"I texted her before a stressful meeting."

 

"We worked in the yard together."

 

"I hugged her before I left the house."

 

"I smiled at him when he came through the door."

 

Adding up the cost of this small sample,  I estimate the average price of successful couple time to be... free. Similarly the median time investment is approximately... six minutes.

 

One of the distracting lines that runs through my brain is that having fun with John is expensive, time consuming and complicated. I cannot expect results without carving out serious money and half a day. But that is not based in reality. I can easily list twenty things that make us smile which take less than a minute. In fact that is one of the exercises we do in the marriage groups that we lead. 

 

But you can begin today having a good time. Get out your phone and send a text. See if you can make your partner laugh.