Everyone Should Read This Whether You Are Married or Not. 

Fables are stories told that usually end with some kind of moral or lesson. Circulating the Internet is a fable about a man who realizes just how much he truly loves his wife. While it is unknown if this story is real, the lesson it represents is one we all should keep in mind. 

The Story. 

As the story goes, a man came to his wife one night to tell her he wanted a divorce. Although they had a son together and shared their lives, he’d fallen out of love with her. He asked for a divorce and told her that he’d fallen in love with someone else. He wrote up a divorce agreement. Because of the guilt he felt, he left her to house, car, and 30% of their business. She looked over the agreement and threw it away. After 10 years together, they felt like strangers. That night they went to bed without speaking a word to each other.

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The next day his wife went to work coming up with a divorce agreement of her own.

Each day for one month, he was to carry her to bed as he’d done the night they were married. His son was so excited to see this and loved that this act had become part of their daily lives. Despite this fact, the man felt uncomfortable being in physical contact with his wife and begrudgingly carried out her wishes. On the last day, the man picked his wife up and noticed how much lighter she felt. He realized the pain and stress he’d caused her, had been the reason for her weight loss. In doing this simple act every day, he rediscovered the love he’d had for his wife. He broke things off with his lover and refocused his energy on making it work with his wife. He brought flowers home with a card stating he’d always be there to carry her. 

The Outcome. 

According to his anonymous story, the couple rekindled their love and began to rebuild their lives together. It took some effort from both parties but together they worked toward cultivating a happy life for their household. After some time, they found a routine that felt comfortable and happy for them and their son and committed their lives to each other once again. 

The Moral. 

Most people have an innate desire to attain routine, stability, and security. Oftentimes, this can lead to complacency or boredom. As a result, we take for granted the people who are always there for us. We find comfort in them and the role they play in our lives. However, when we get used to their presence and what they do for us, we forget to appreciate them. Life is finite and so are the relationships we have. The only way to ensure longevity is to treat others with kindness, respect, and appreciation. This story is a great reminder to appreciate the relationships we have and to be willing to put in the fort to maintain those relationships. 

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So What Can You Do? 

This couple, like most, made the commitment to love and support each other until “death do we part”. Many things can be done so that our loved ones feel good about the impact they make in our lives. Some examples of things you can do to show appreciation are simple everyday things. Giving compliments is one of the easiest because they’re usually only a few words and require little effort except to look at the contributions your partner makes, and appreciate that and who they are.

Offering to do chores for one another is a great way to keep perspective on how difficult life can be. By “walking in one another’s shoes” we learn of the challenges faced and skills required in order to do what it takes to keep a household running smoothly. Surprise each other with little gifts. Receiving surprise gifts is one of those little pleasures that can brighten any bad day.

Most importantly, go on date nights.

This is a great way to reconnect with each other and rekindle the love you felt the day you said: “I do”. While it is unclear if this story is real, based on real events, or just a made-up fable one thing is clear. Life comes with many ups and downs for everyone and the people who support us are invaluable. Life’s hardships can cause people to lose sight of the love they have for one another. Expressing love and gratitude, while also finding little ways to keep life exciting can ensure longevity in relationships. 

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