Relationships

"Why did your husband leave you?" asked Rabbi Israel. "He says that I'm ugly," said the deserted wife. "And what do you say to that?" asked the Chassidic master.

Did anyone notice how, though they sat on separate chairs not touching, they sat as close as two people could without touching?

I would always see her behavior as unkind, insensitive and truly narcissistic, and she would even admit to this and say that she can't change. So, round and round we'd go...

"I am so critical. Why can’t I just judge him favorably?"

In my pursuit to be “helpful,” I was quickly killing the intimacy in my marriage.

When my current husband and I married, I asked him to “gift” me my Aunt Dot’s ring. I understood that the diamond was only a symbol, and that the practice of committing oneself to love and understanding of one’s partner was the true treasure.

He suddenly said he wanted to talk. I had butterflies in my stomach. This was the moment I had longed for.

During the engagement period, I continued to be pestered with occasional waves of doubt and fear—not based on anything tangible, just phantoms in my mind.

My last correspondence with my spouse, with each child, family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors—are they positive, and ones I would “be OK with” if they were the last impression someone had of me?

At dinner I found myself sitting across from David. He was smart, not bad looking, and had a real British sense of humo(u)r. After the meal ended, we continued talking for over an hour.