Relationship Garden Blog

 Introduction:  Dialogue shouldn’t just be for managing differences and discussing difficult issues.  Intentional Dialogue works best when we use it to communicate a variety of important feelings – and what is more important than the love we feel for each other.

So in that spirit I offer the following dialogue.  Find a quiet time, perhaps over dinner of in front of a fire to share the following:

(Remember to mirror each sentence stem)

1. On the day I met you the first thing I noticed was….
2. As we got to know each other what I came to love about you was….
3. My fondest memory of our early days/years together is….
4. What I value most about our relationship now is….
5. One fantasy I have of how I would like to spend a day together is…
6. One dream I have for our future is….

Summarize, let your partner know what makes sense about what they have shared, and empathize (how I imagine you feel as you think about our relationship)….then switch!  Perhaps finish with a romantic kiss.

 Instructions:  Find a quiet time that is good for both of you, and a place to sit and talk where you will not be disturbed.  Take a minute or two before you begin to sit together quietly and remind yourselves of how precious your relationship is.  Take turns completing the following sentences.  The listener should listen quietly (mirroring if you know how) before sharing your own answers.

1. One thing I’m really looking forward to about the coming holidays is…
2. Of all my childhood holiday memories, the one that means the most to me is…
3. One painful childhood memory I have from this time of year is (if relevant)….
4. One thing I’m grateful to you for as I think about getting ready for the holidays….
5. One dream I have for our holiday celebration is…
6. One fear or worry I have about the upcoming holidays is….
7. What you can do to support or nurture me during this season is…
8. One thing I can imagine doing to support or nurture you is….
9. When the holidays are over this year what I would like us to be able to say to each other is….

END WITH A HUG AND/OR KISS!