|
Today is our 24th wedding anniversary. ❤️ And as I woke up this morning, I felt grateful. Grateful that KC is still here, beside me. Grateful that we love each other the way we do. Grateful that I know he’ll be with me ‘til the end of time. So today, on our anniversary, I’m starting this newsletter with a dedication to him. To KC, Thank you for still holding my hand after all these years - in the car, walking down the street, when we are falling asleep in bed at night. That simple act always reminds me, “I’m with you.” Thank you for not giving up (even when we’re both frustrated) and for participating in multiple rounds of the same conversation until we both feel heard and seen. We don’t always get it right the first time, but you always stay in it with me until we do. Thank you for loving our kids so well. The sports, the cheering, the trips, the advice, and the countless everyday ways you’ve been their dad. They know they can count on you. They’ve learned what commitment looks like because they’ve seen it lived out in you. Thank you for supporting me in this new season of life. You’ve cheered me on as I discovered coaching and found my passion. You’ve believed in me when I doubted myself. Your encouragement and support is invaluable. Thank you for growing with me. The man I married all those years ago isn’t the man you are today… and that’s the best part. You’ve grown so much, and leaned in when it mattered most. And you’ve let me change too, even when I didn’t even know what I could become. And thank you for proving, in a thousand small ways, that “I do” wasn’t just something you said once at the altar. It’s something you actually DO - every day, right along side me. And beside you is where I always want to be. I love you. Jen ❤️ And to you, my reader: That’s my Happy Anniversary letter to my husband. It’s very personal, and honestly, I feel pretty vulnerable putting it out in the world so publicly. But here’s why I chose to share it with you… Saying thank you really matters in a marriage. I want KC to feel how much I love and appreciate him. I hope I show that in my actions every day, but words are powerful. We know how easily words can hurt… And they have the same power to make us feel seen, valued and loved. But you don’t have to wait for an anniversary to share words of love and affirmation with your partner. Today, you could take a moment to pause and ask yourself - What unspoken “thank you” does he/she need to hear? It doesn’t have to be something big - maybe it’s for making the coffee this morning, taking the dog out or always being the one to put the stadium seats in the car on the way to your kid’s football game. (I see you, KC.) You could sit and write them a letter - not just on an anniversary, but on an ordinary Tuesday - and give it to them to remind them how much they matter. Or maybe it’s as simple as looking across the dinner table tonight and saying, “Hey, thank you. I don’t say it enough, but I do notice what you do, and I’m glad we’re in this together.” If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few simple ideas: Say thank you out loud for something small they did today that you might normally overlook. Write a short note and tuck it somewhere unexpected - their car, their work bag, their pillow. Give them a compliment out loud, in front of the kids, so everyone sees your love and appreciation. Look them in the eye and say, “I really love you.”
So that’s what 24 years has taught me… that the little things aren’t really so little. They’re what build a life, a family, and a love story worth celebrating. And just like I wanted KC to hear it from me today, your spouse probably needs to hear it from you, too. So today, I hope you will follow my lead… Pause, notice, and say thank you. It might just be the start of something beautiful in your own marriage. With love and belief in you,
|
