The One Simple Act That Will Improve Your Relationship

Just one simple thing you can do to make your relationship better, and it won’t cost you a dime! This will work if you are new to your relationship, or if you’ve been together for years and have grandkids.

The simple trick? Every time you walk by your spouse, touch them! Wait, what?

You read that right, simply touch them. Touch them on the shoulder. Touch their elbow as you pass by. Touch their hand as they slip by you in the kitchen. Simple. Truly, it’s this simple!

My own parents set this example for me growing up. As kids, we always knew how important our parents were to each other, and one way was that little “touch” we would see every time they passed. Although we may have interpreted it as “Ewwww” at the time, I find myself doing the same thing with my wife, and probably had my kids thinking the same thing that I did when they were younger.

I’ve come to realize that these little gestures produced major, long-term rewards. First, for my wife and I, it meant that we were still connected. It meant that amongst the chaos of life, “I know that you are there.” And just as important, it told them that, “I’m always here for you.” If ever there were difficult times or disagreements lingering in the air, a gentle squeeze on a forearm or touch of a hand could warm the chilled air; no words necessary many times.

Another reward was teaching my children what their mother meant to me. They see us together, still touching each other, still showing them that we are a unified front and strength for them. And as mentioned, when the air was a little chilly, which has more of an effect on the kids than we realize, them seeing this small gesture of a hand squeeze reaffirms them that things are alright in our little castle. It’s safe.

As our home is a couple weeks short of being an empty nest, my wife and I find ourselves spending more and more time together. After a long day at work, and finishing dinner together, we often disappear to watch a couple episodes of some old series on Netflix in the front room. Hitting the button on the television, finding the next episode of Star Trek Voyager, our dogs nuzzling in around my wife’s feet, I hit play and reach over to hold my wife’s hand.

A light squeeze on her hand, cue the opening soundtrack, all’s right in my world.

https://anchor.fm/s/27783f8?at=2624834

Originally published at Man Ramblings.