Date Night: WeGIVE - { better to give than to receive }

Give to others and to your marriage!

"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve." —Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Holiday season is right around the corner and our children are already handing us their list of Christmas Wishes. As adults, our wish lists may not be the first thought to come to mind for the Holiday Season. However, I can guess a few things that do come to mind—stress, finances, time constraints, finding the perfect gift for a loved one, work parties, weight gain and holiday bonuses. However, you might be surprised that there is one gift that involves giving instead of getting; isn’t wrapped up with a pretty bow under the tree, and can bring great satisfaction both to an individual, a marriage or a family.

This year we want to encourage couples in a different direction during the Christmas Season—instead of focusing on all of the typical stressors—we want couples to do something maybe “a little out of the box”—serve together or volunteer together.

You may be thinking, “Great, one more thing to add to the ‘to do list’ when mine is already a mile long.” However, you might be surprised by the gift you and your spouse will get through the gift of giving.

Perhaps the first and biggest benefit people get from volunteering is the satisfaction of incorporating service into their lives and making a difference in their community and country. This brings a sense of pride, satisfaction and accomplishment. In addition to this, we share our time and talents as well as:

• Solve problems
• Strengthen communities
• Improve lives
• Connect to others
• Transform our own lives
• Receive numerous health benefits

The great news is this: You will not only be helping others in need—but you will also be helping your marital relationship thrive and grow. Think about the above list of benefits—what marriage can’t use a strong dose of problem solving skills, connection, a sense of pride, satisfaction and accomplishment as a couple? Wow! Instead of an IPAD or an I-Phone, or a new piece of jewelry, this could be the hottest item on the “wish list” this year!

“We Give” to others and to our marriage!

In the midst of giving, it may seem selfish to focus on what we get in return, however, the benefits can’t be ignored. People have many different reasons for giving to others—but how about improving your marital relationship? Did you know that “altruism” actually lights up the same reward center in your brain as the one turned on by eating great food? Psychologists report that the good feelings from altruism may last longer and there are no calories in giving! So, not only will “We Give” help with holding off the typical holiday weight gain—it will leave you as a couple feeling good as well! You won’t just feel good—but look good too!

So, how do you get the plan down for giving this season instead of getting?

Before Your Adventure