September is self-improvement month, and at the beginning of this month, we asked readers to join us on a two-week self-improvement challenge. The challenge was simple: Find one thing you admire about your partner every day. It could be anything, big or small. Now, I don’t know how YOU did, but here’s my take away from the past two weeks. Granted, with all that life throws my way on a daily basis, it’s hard to remember to do it every day, and on some days, I felt like it was impossible to find anything I liked about my husband…
But that’s just it. Not every day of your life is happy and that’s okay.
Here’s what I realized I admire about him:
- His discipline: No matter how chaotic his life gets, he works out a minimum of 3 times a week.
- Being able to keep professional and personal opinions separate: He can like or dislike a colleague in his personal time, but when it comes to work, he keeps it strictly to the facts.
- Takes criticism like a champ: He’s able to leave his ego at the door and when we disagree, he remembers it’s in the best interest of the family.
- Family first: No matter how busy he gets at work, he always checks in to see how my day’s going.
- Random “just because I love you” gifts instead of waiting for a special occasion
- Respects my need for peace, quiet, and alone time: No explanation is needed, he just gets it.
- His compliments are sincere. He doesn’t say “you look beautiful” to me on a daily basis and I admire his honesty. I don’t need someone to lie to me and tell me I’m beautiful when I’ve just woken up with bedhead and the flu.
What the past two weeks have made me realize is 1) my husband is adorable in his own quirky way and 2) I really don’t care about the stereotypical displays of love and affection. I don’t want roses or date nights that feel like obligations. We’ve got our own way of life that works for our family.
After the past two weeks, the number of times this challenge has brought a smile to my face when I realized that I had noticed something adorable about my partner made me want to keep it going.
Hopefully, you joined us in our two-week challenge and have your own positive discoveries about your partner.
Be sure to join our next one and challenge yourself to let it go.
Images: Pexels
