The Simple Marriage Project

August 6, 20084

Welcome To The Simple Marriage World

First time here? Welcome fellow Zen Habit readers. I hope you'll consider subscribing viaRSS feed or Zen Habits. I’d like to take a quick moment and say hello. I’m currently writing this little welcome from a coffee shop in Edinburgh, Scotland, where I’m on an adventure through my family’s homeland with my father (so imagine hearing this entire post with a Scottish accent).

The main belief behind The Simple Marriage Project - life is choice. Therefore I choose to:

Grow deeper Spiritually
Live simply and passionately
Experience a marriage fully alive
Live in community with others

Please come on in and make yourself at home in our little fellowship. For more popular posts, refer to the top ten on the right and/or check out the bottom section.

Popularity: 8% [?]

August 5, 20084

Zen Habits’ Take On A Simple Marriage

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you may not have heard of Zen Habits. If you’ve logged on to the Internet within the past year, then without a doubt you’ve heard of Leo Babauta.

Not only is Leo behind the incredibly successful blog Zen Habits (over 60K subscribers), he launched Write To Done (a blog for writers) earlier this year as well as Web Warrior Tools (an e-book publishing venture).

Today I am pleased to present an interview Simple Marriages had with Leo and his wife Eva. Hope you enjoy.

Popularity: 16% [?]

August 3, 20083

The 5 Steps To A Simple Marriage: Part 4- Simplify

Photo courtesy Sleestak66

Have you bought the new 3G IPhone yet? What about the Wii Fit? Or the Apple Airbook? While there is nothing wrong with any of these items, as well as many others, do you really need them? Do they simplify life or make things more complicated?

On the surface, the latest cell phone/calendar/email server/game console/navigation system may help in organizing life, but at what cost? Many people will rush out and pick up the latest gadget before they can really afford it. Paying by the credit card shuffle in order to keep up with the trends. So do these gadgets really simplify life in these instances? No.

Rather than focusing this post on the materialistic pulls that may complicate life, it’s also important to look at how you can simplify schedules, family routines, marriage, parenting, and households.

Popularity: 19% [?]

August 2, 20080

Best of Simple Marriages, July 2008

July was another great month here at Simple Marriages. And once again, this is thanks entirely to you loyal readers. So thank you for making this project happen.

There were many new readers who joined us in July. Welcome to the Simple Marriage fellowship. We’re glad you’ve joined our bid to take over the world.

In case you missed anything in July, here are a few of the best posts.

Popularity: 19% [?]

July 31, 200812

Ask The Readers: A 24-Hour London Plunge

Photo courtesy flappingwings

I leave Sunday night for a 9 day trip to Scotland with my father. The travel around Scotland will be planned as we go along by my father and I. At this point, the priority of things I want to see consist of 1) family roots and places my father went to school while there as a child, 2) Scottish history, specifically some William Wallace stuff as well as the highlands, and 3) anything else we decide to go see.

I fly into London, where I’ll have about 24 hours to see the sights before hopping on the train to Scotland where I will hook up with my dad. So this week’s question (nothing like waiting until the last minute):

What are some things I should be sure to see while in London?

Bear in mind, this is my first time to Europe so I will want to see some of the mainstays. St. Paul’s Cathedral, Parliament, etc. What else should I try to take in along the way?

Popularity: 23% [?]

July 29, 20084

Man Up: 14 Ways To Affair Proof Your Marriage

fidelity1 14 Ways To Affair Proof Your Marriage
Photo by HarveNYC

Editor’s note: This is a repost from Art of Manliness.

Several weeks ago New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was forced to confess his involvement in a prostitution ring. The story has been all over the media and many blogs have done posts compiling lists of other prominent men’s fall from grace. But some of the most important questions aren’t being asked. Mainly, how does this happen, especially to a man who has spent his life crusading against corruption? And how can other men avoid falling into the same trap?

The Sptizer case, while certainly high profile, is hardly a rarity. 25% of all American men (and some studies put the number even higher) will have extramarital affairs during their lifetime. Will you be 1 of the 4? Or will you be able to stay true?

Many people look at infidelity as if it was a natural disaster; no one could see it coming; it just inexplicably happened. Perhaps this is because we are a country that has abdicated its belief in personal responsibility. The truth is that not only can men see it coming, they can prevent it from happening as well.

It is possible to affair proof your marriage. Will it be a lot of work? Yes. But that’s what you signed up for when you decided to marry your sweetheart.

Popularity: 35% [?]

July 27, 20084

How To Choose A Shrink: Part 2

Photo courtesy one from RM

If you happened to miss the initial guide, be sure to check it out.

One reader posted a comment asking a few very good follow up questions based on part one. Here is an excerpt of the comment:

Finding a therapist, especially when there isn’t anything catastrophic wrong, is a challenging thing. There just seems no good way to find someone without a referral from a friend, which most people (including myself) are too uncomfortable asking for.

How do you do a phone screen? How do you know if the counseling is “working”? How long is a fair trial?

Allow me to attempt to tackle the stigma of going to counseling.

Popularity: 30% [?]

July 24, 200810

Ask The Readers: Kid-less Weekends

While this may not be feasible for every couple, thanks to close friends that live nearby (actually so close they’re considered grandparents), my wife I get a weekend with no kids! Uninterrupted dinners, movies in one sitting, sleeping in, going out with other couples and not having to entertain the kids while we wait for our food.

Thank you Nana and Papa G. for loving and taking care of our kids.

This week’s question:

How often should a couple have a kidless weekend?

As always, post your response in the comments section.

Bonus question: Ideas how you and your spouse would spend a kidless weekend?

Maybe my wife and I will try out some of your ideas. I look forward to the discussion. See you in the comments below.

Popularity: 36% [?]