Someone once told me that ‘marriage’ should always be a verb, not a noun.  It takes hard work and it deserves to be rewarded. No one is going to hand you a medal for making it through the finish line of another year, but it should be celebrated because each year you are married brings you one step closer to defying the odds.  Anniversaries are the perfect time to appreciate each other and this partnership you have with no one else.  Sometimes work, kids, household chores, and family responsibilities will make you feel like it’s impossible to find the time to celebrate, but it’s so important that you do.  I’m no marriage expert, but here are a few things I’ve picked up about anniversaries in the last 18 years:

ALONE IS IDEAL.  When you have small kids it’s easy to just say, “Let’s bring them along.”  But we all know that when kids are there it becomes all about them.  This is the time to hire a babysitter or cash in on some favors.

NO GIFTS.  Everyone is different, but personally, I don’t need a present on my anniversary.  I feel like it’s not about giving anything except attention and time.  (Although I’ll never say no to a card!)

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Travel can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful.  So why do people bother doing it? There is something magical about getting away from everything and embracing the unknown. The following are 10 things that I notice happen when we are on vacation: 

1.     CELL PHONES LOSE IMPORTANCE. I hate to admit it but when I’m home I can be pretty glued to my cellphone.  I am constantly checking emails and getting online to research different topics.  However, on vacation I can care less where my phone is! Sometimes I even go days without taking it out of my purse and it is the best feeling to be in the moment with my family. 

2.    VIDEO GAMES DISAPPEAR.  Since the kids bring several electronics with them on vacation to play with on the plane, I expect they will play with them throughout the trip.  This rarely happens.  On some trips, it never comes out of their suitcase.  There are so many new things to discover that our kids would rather go out to the beach to look for shells or build a sandcastle that electronics lose their interest.   

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Ever notice how relaxed and less stressed you are when on vacation? The hours just float by in a carefree daze.  Ok…that may have a little bit to do with the margaritas that started at noon but there’s more to it.  There’s something magical about a vacation because of one thing…DOLCHE FAR NIENTE. Come again? Italians have a saying… ‘dolche far niente’… which translates into, “sweetness of doing nothing.”  It is the accepted act of doing nothing of importance, and some Europeans have made it an art form. To me, it is the most rewarding things about vacation.

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