A fun exercise to help your relationship Thrive.

94% of the time that couples who put a positive spin on their marriage’s history are likely to have a happy future as well

Most couples find that recalling their past together recharges their relationship in the here and now. Spending a few minutes answering these questions can be powerful in fanning the flame of fondness and admiration.

1. Discuss how the two of you met and got together. Was there anything about your spouse that made him or her stand out? What were your first impressions of each other?
2. What do you remember most about the time you were first dating? How long did you date before you got married? What do you remember of this period? What were some of the highlights? What types of things did you do together?
3. Talk about how you decided to get married. What led you to decide that this was the person for you? Was it an easy decision?
4. Do you remember your wedding? Talk to each other about your memories. Did you go on a honeymoon? What do you remember about your honeymoon?
5. What do you remember about the first year you were married? Were there any adjustments that needed to be made?
6. What about the transition to becoming parents? Talk to each other about this period of your relationship. What was it like for the two of you?
7. Looking back over the years, what moments stand out as really happy times in your marriage? What is a good time for you as a couple?
8. Many relationships go through periods of ups and downs. Would you say this is true for your relationship? Can you describe some of these periods?
9. Have you stopped doing things together that once brought you joy? Explore these with each other.
10. Talk to each other about why you think some marriages work while others don’t. Decide together who among the couples you know have particularly good marriages and who have particularly bad marriages. What is different about these two relationships? How would you compare your own marriage to each of these couples?
11. Talk to each other about your parents’ marriages. Would you say they are different or similar to your relationship? What would you like to change?