Sunday, March 25, 2012

Does One Couple's Happiness Rub Off?

Yesterday we got together with another couple, friends of ours from the Berkshires. I have been friends with the wife since grade school and we are both very happily married to our second husbands. We had a wonderful lunch, shared a bottle of wine, and shared desert at a picnic table in a nearby state park.
Since Chuck and I have found each other, I have noticed all kinds of couples...some happy together, but most not happy together. When we go out with other couples, it's so much more fun to go out with another couple that loves and respects each other. There's a camaraderie there that doesn't exist with the others. There's a lot more laughter and smiles while we are all together.

I have been hearing a lot about how you should get rid of people in your lives that are negative influences, because they just bring you down. This makes a lot of sense...to rid your life of negative influences means there's more room to bring positive people into it. I wonder if this is true for couples as well though? Should a couple with a good relationship get rid of those couples they know that have been married for years, and are miserable together? Or what of those who have forgotten how much they love each other? If a couple has a good, strong relationship, should they make the effort to continue friendships with couples who aren't so happy, and maybe their happiness and maybe their happiness and displays of affection for each other ( holding hands, an arm around a shoulder, etc.) will rub off on the not so happy couple? Sometimes Chuck and I are out with one of the not so happy couples, we will see them holding hands after dinner, like we are. I wonder if there's any way happy couples improve the relationship between those that aren't. What are your thoughts on that?

4 comments:

  1. I think Jesus has commanded for us to be light in a dark world and this is really a great way to let your light and Love Shine. I think that some times not so happy couples need to see other couples be real, Mrs G and I will often tell others that we are passionate we Love passionately and we fight passionately! But the main thing is that after almost 30 years our Love is still growing, Jesus gives us what we need, when we don't have what we need to Love Live give and Serve like we should, We know we need to go to the source of Life Love and Servant hood! So Yes stay around hurting,Struggling, Needy even Negative couples just don't let them diminish your light but shine into there Lives and Marriages!!

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  2. You are right...I hadn't thought about it in that way. Thanks for the comment. Oh, and I have never seen you 2 fight...I can't imagine that happening, but now the loving passionately? Well it's always been obvious to me how much you love each other so I do believe that!You 2 are a wonderful example for other married couples.

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  3. I don't think it is so much of a rubbing off as it is a setting an example for others to emulate in their own lives. Our obvious delight and respect for each other shows on the public side, especially. Even if we are having differences at home, when we are out, we work hard at showing our love for each other, which is as it should always be. After 25 years together, our love still is strong, still is growing, even in different directions, as we take on new challenges to our individual lives. We have learned to adapt to these new situations as a couple, leaning on each other for support. That leaning is shown publically to other couples, and I, too, have often seen distant couples move closer to each other when we go out with them. It is nice to see that, and I would hope that it continues after we part ways for the evening.

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  4. Marriage is a commitment that should not be taken lightly. Being a good example to other couples is a good idea, but it is also important to be "real".

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