In 11 minutes my husband will finish watching The Antiques Roadshow. Not old enough to fully appreciate the beauty of really old stuff, I can justify spending the next 11 minutes writing this. After that, I’ll need to go and be a good wife, make conversation and enjoy a wonderful meal prepared by his own fair hands.
Why the time constraints? If you’re a blogger and you’ve been writing for anything more than a couple of weeks, I suspect that by now you will be facing issues of time management. I met a writer today whose wife finally gave in and became a blogger herself. But until that day, I will always find myself writing in a rush, ignoring poor spelling and slips of the fingers in an attempt to communicate within a time frame.
I was going to call this post ‘Easy ways to blog your way to the divorce courts’ but somehow that didn’t fit with the motivational, happy and optimistic tone this site likes to bring you. However, I’ve been very conscious today of the need for compromise when functioning as part of a family. Agreeing times to tap away while your partner watches a TV programme you’re not interested in is part of that.
To that end, thanks to the interruptions from my beloved, I’ve now only got a couple of minutes left. However, owing in a large part to the fact that he and I have already had a conversation about this, I am confident I can snatch another few without ending up in big trouble 
And therein lies my big relationship saving tip for the day: It’s good to talk. Anyone who’s been in a room with me for more than five minutes will tell you that I live by that maxim. I love to talk. However, conversation is more than talking at someone. When you’re in a relationship, you’re not meant to be delivering a monologue It is the Greek philosopher Epictetus who is credited with having penned the immortal line, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
We women like to think that we’re great at multi-tasking (we are ) but there are some things that deserve your full attention. Listening to someone you care about should come at the top of that list. If they often have to repeat themselves three times or you miss the punch line, mark this off as lesson learned, apologise and promise you’ll do better next time.
I almost wrote, ‘promise you’ll try to do better next time’, but am reminded of a quote I read yesterday which would laugh this sentiment off the table:
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
I’m not a big Star Wars fan (and yes, I have been advised to watch the trilogy ) but I’m told this wisdom comes our way courtesy of Yoda.
Personally I’m more of a Fred Flintstone fan. Which reminds me, my time is up and dinner is ready. “Yabbadabbadoo!”
Over to you. What do you think?
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Twitter: bluepop13
You really do have to just do or not do. I’ve heard this and I agree all the same.
When I talk with my girlfriend we have meaningful conversation and when I’m commenting (as I am now and she’s on the bed with her DS) and she knows it’s part of what I do she lets me be and knows if I say I’m commenting on five more sites and then we’ll have time together, it means I’m going to do exactly as I said, no more not less.
This is very important.
Just a note, by the way: ‘The Way I Blog With Ease’ is NOT my latest blog post so check out my blog because CommentLuv isn’t work for some odd reason.
My latest blog post is actually: ‘Lets Help Each Other’ and I think it could be a big hit to be honest.
.-= Eric´s last blog ..The Way I Blog With Ease =-.
Twitter: GiveABrick
I said something similar elsewhere but it sounds like you and your girlfriend have a very healthy balance going on there. It’s important to be as good as your word and the fact that she can rely on it is all credit to you
I already read your ‘Let’s Help Each Other’ post. Great idea, just still trying to compile my list. I want to do that before I read any comments as I’d hate my list to be a response to others if that makes sense?
.-= Eleanor´s last blog ..Why Science Says Happy Works – Dr Egg’s Blog =-.