Heart to Heart

Tips for Thriving in your Marriage

“There’s a message in Gabby for all women. We can’t control the things that happen in our lives, but we can control how we face them”

- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, about her friend, Representative Gabby Giffords

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Gabby Giffords and Control

There was a period in my marriage when I guarantee you I would NOT have wanted to be married to me! I was mean, belittling, angry and nagging…with a big chip on my shoulder. ‘How unfair that I ended up with a man who didn’t pay any attention to me,’ I thought!

And then there is Gabby Giffords, whose challenges put my own into perspective.

There is something to learn from her story and, to a lesser degree, from my own. Gabby has shown how true grit, determination, grace and optimism can help you overcome even the most significant odds. For me, deciding to respond differently – to stop nagging; be kind; and be empathetic took its own kind of grit and grace.

Perhaps we don’t all have Gifford’s internal fire, but I’m convinced we do all have the ability to change ourselves so we can all be truly proud of who we are. Giffords teaches us all a lesson – we can’t control what happens to us, but we can certainly control how we respond.

MY NEXT COURSE FOR COUPLES STRUGGLING WITH ADHD STARTS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 9TH.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO THIS LINK.

I will not be sending out another marriage tip until the New Year.  Time for (everyone) to take a vacation!

© 2011 Melissa Orlov