I Danced With My Best Friend For 21 Years
I was walking through a shopping mall today with my best friend, window shopping, and looking for a coffee shop where we could sit and relax for a while!
We’ve been best mates (buddies) now for over 21 years, and our friendship seems to get deeper all the time.
I was thinking about this as we walked along, so I grabbed her hand as we walked.
We’ve enjoyed a lot of great times together, as well as weathering quite a few storms.
There are times when we’ve argued, as we are both strong willed, and have opposing opinions on a (great) number of things.
Of course, I’m talking about my wife here. After 21 years and four children, we’re still going strong, despite being told before we got married that ‘she was a bit country while I was a lot rock and roll’.
The differences in taste, upbringing and opinions does add fire and spice at different times, but it can also strengthen the ties that bind us together.
Basically, our marriage has been a matter of commitment to each other, concentrating on the things that matter, while keeping trivial differences in their place.
And we talk – communicating about everything from our jobs, the kids, dreams, and even when someone makes a pass at one of us.
I should say, especially when someone makes a pass…
I started thinking about how we’ve managed our relationship with openness over the years after a Facebook friend told me how she’d found out that someone had a crush on her.
She’d dealt with it the same way we do, by talking it over with her spouse.
Openness can be hard to develop in any relationship, as well as being painful, but if each regards the other as equally or more importantly as the other, they are looking out for each other, and protecting each other.
Before we married we spent a lot of time discussing how we might deal with things, our fears, hopes, and how we would react in different circumstances.
We also talked about our expectations, both of ourselves, and each other.
Dancing to the same tune is important – heading in the same direction is vital.
I found this video to show what I mean. I hope that you enjoy it!
The beginning is a tad slow, but after about a minute and a half, the action really picks up!
Watch and enjoy as Brian and Katie show us how it is done!
(Video will not display in RSS feeds such as Blog Friends)
This is such a great post Allan 🙂 I was really moved when you talked about having an open relationship and the need for communication on everything that you do. The plans you had before you were married and the way you are still connected! You have a very special bond with Suzie and it comes through in your writing… and btw… that video is just great! I love it and they are a very special couple too 🙂
Cheers
Ange
Ange Recchia’s last blog post..Joe Vitale and His 15 Minute Miracle
Thanks Ange,
I think that part of our success thus far is the fact that we spent a lot of time apart before we were married. We had to write, and communicated via phone as well.
She was in Dubbo and I was in Sydney. By the time we were finished, I used to send her mail to ‘Princess Suzanne of Dubbo’ and it always found her.
I think another thing was that by the time I popped the question, I was a bit older, and knew exactly where I wanted to go.
Communication is always the key, mutual respect, listening and giving good value.
The video is great, and they illustrate the point wonderfully!
Cheers.