Reciprocal relationships ....

No fellas, we're not talking about power tools!

What we're talking about is the basis for everything FM.com stands for and began with.
Simply put, it's an ideal that starts with what your parents told you when your were a child; "treat people like you want to be treated".

It really works.

If your spouse doesn't know that you will be with him/her 100% each and every day, how can you expect your spouse to be there for you?

I know its VERY hard to always think about your spouse first in life... but the more you SHOW your spouse that you are concerned with how they are, the more they will show you the same.

It amazes me when I hear people complain about their partner and I ask them, "have you mentioned this to your spouse?" The answer is usually something like " no, but he should know that's how I feel"; or more commonly, "as long as we've been together, she should know that by now".

NONE of us are mind readers! No matter how long we've been together, we still don't always know what's going on in each others lives without talking about it. (If anyone disagrees please let me know, I wanna take you to Vegas).

Talking is your #1 form of communicating regardless of who you are.

Being able to talk to your spouse about ANYTHING is the #1 most important aspect of any relationship. If there's something you can tell your girlfriends at work, but can't talk to your partner about, there is a serious problem.

Your partner is exactly that - the person that you have promised to spend the rest of your life with, is it not????

Why on earth would you keep ANYTHING from this person???

Why would you DO something you couldn't tell your partner???

I wish more people would consider these questions BEFORE they entered into a committed relationship.

If there are things in your life you can't tell your spouse about then, you aren't having the best relationship you can, and you certainly aren't being the best partner you can be. As you begin to apply the things we discuss here on the site in your relationship, there will come a time when you begin to feel confident enough to start letting go of the things you have held secret over the course of your relationship, and through this process you will start to experience what it truly means to have a fantastic marriage.

This line of thought will be touched on often - as you have heard many times I'm sure, communication is the key to all relationships. It's opening those lines, and keeping them open, that is the real challenge as you work on this.

Keep in mind what I said at the start, if you put your spouse's needs first, your spouse will do the same for you - you each will always feel that strength thats derived that that closeness of spirits where the impossible becomes possible.