It can be challenging to find joy and connection with your partner when life becomes familiar.

When was the last time that you just stared into your lover’s eyes for longer than 15 minutes? I have been married to my husband, Justin, for almost 13 … no, for 12 years now. In that time, we have grown our spa business, school, and bed and breakfast. We’ve had four children.

Honestly, there have been many times where, we’ve just been like ships passing in the night.

We accomplish a lot of important things: getting the kids down for bed, making sure payroll goes out, on-going maintenance around the bed and breakfast. Just getting the laundry done for the spa and our family could be a legitimate part-time job!

Make Time to Enjoy One Another

When it seems like we don’t have time, that’s the perfect time to Make Time. It doesn’t take much. Even once or twice a month could make a big difference in your relationship.

We’ve been lucky enough to keep our date night a priority. Once a week, we make time to enjoy one another. Date night has been scheduled as a part of our routine for quite some time. I thought we were doing great.

Then, this summer, my husband and I were sitting on the beach together when he said, “Gosh, do you remember that we used to love to dance together? That was so much fun. We should totally do that again.”

“Yeah. I would love to do that again.”, I said.

Of course, we came back from summer break and jumped straight back into work. Nothing changed. Same busy life.

A few weeks ago, my husband said to me, “I found a salsa class. It’s every Friday night, and I think that should be our date night from now on.”

Get Out of the Usual Routine

I was so excited about it. Something different. Out of our routine dinner and a movie. Not the usual one hour of business meeting followed by two hours of “hanging out.”

“That sounds like a great idea”, I said.

This moments of connection have had a huge impact on our lives. to have those moments of connection. When we dance, I get to look into his eyes. Two hours of laughing, smiling, doing silly and crazy.

The last three weeks of dancing together have been some of the most wonderful experiences of our entire marriage. It’s really that profound.

There aren’t too many things you can do with one another at that level of intimacy outside of the bedroom. I love it!

We start the evening with a lesson and then we dance the night away.

Here’s what we’ve learned so far:

1. Let Him Lead: I’m learning to let my husband lead. It’s such a relief to have the opportunity to follow. Being an empowered woman in 2019, sometimes we forget how beautiful it is to let down our guard. Stop planning every step and see where it goes.
2. Time is Precious: When you have children, you and your partner are the foundation of the family. We set the stage for the energetic in the household. The time you invest to build the foundation of your relationship is precious. When that foundation isn’t sound and strong, your love can fall to the wayside and, eventually, disappear.
3. Renew Your Sense of Wonder I have always loved Justin. Now, I feel a renewed sense of respect and love in my heart for him. The time we have dedicated to really look into each others’ eyes has allowed us to make a deeper soul connection than I’ve experienced probably since before the children.

Powerful connections create smooth interactions and relationships.

Kumu Jeana