This past weekend, I attended the Soul Hoyas Reunion event at Georgetown University. This annual event is a way to bond with old friends to get caught up to date on our lives since college, participate in community service and just plain let loose , flirt with old crushes and party. After a very successful and enjoyable weekend, I found myself reflecting and communicating to friends that couldn’t attend how much fun we had. You know what I also felt, I longed to return home where I belonged, my wife and kids.
Around 7:00 Sunday morning after I watched ESPN, prayed and showered, I packed up my belongings and journeyed home. When I was on the highway, I called my wife to let her know I was driving back to New Jersey. I sensed she was anticipating my return not by her words, but by the tone of the conversation. She was excited.
Her excitement is clearly expressed by today’s Marriage Music Monday selection, “Get Here (if you Can)” by Oleta Adams.
You can reach me by railway
You can reach me by trailway
You can reach me by an airplane
You can reach me with you mind
You can reach me by caravan
Cross the desert like an Arab man
I don’t care how you get here
Get here if you can
There are hills and mountains between us
Always something to get over
If I had my way, surely you would be closer
I need you closer
Having separate time and interests will help vitalize the marriage. It can be energizing to participate in a hobby or an activity that is solely your own. It allows you do have some private space plus it gives you something else to discuss with your partner. Marriage entails a lot of togetherness, but just because you’re married, you don’t need to be joined at the hip. So as an assignment if you don’t have an activity that you have just for yourself, find one and have your spouse find one, too.
Make sure each of you has time away from the other with friends, family, or alone. Enjoy your separate interests.
It can be the key to keeping your marriage fresh.