At the start of 2014, Vitaliy and I filled 12 envelopes with 12 unique date ideas that we hoped to enjoy together once a month for the entire year.
We felt like our date nights were too routine: dinner and/or a movie. The majority of our date nights still revolve around this scenario. However, the envelopes of date ideas were our way of making a more conscious effort to add a little more investment and adventure to our time together. The way we would have prior to marriage. We’re not yet to the end of the year, but out of those 12 envelopes, guess how many we’ve done so far this year? Only three.
About halfway into the year, I was super down about how few we had enjoyed. I felt like a failure and in some ways a hypocrite since I also shared the idea here with you. But I recently had a change of heart as I reminded myself that life is about progress not perfection. The true is same for marriage. It doesn’t matter what happened earlier this year. What matters is right now. I took October’s envelope and decided it was feasible and worth us dropping other things in order to make it happen.
Last Friday we worked a few hours in the morning and then took off for an adventure together. We explored artwork at the Beach Chalet, ate lunch at The Cliff House, and walked the beach hand in hand. It was exactly what we needed and I’m so happy I put all of my “responsibilities” to the side for the day. Because honestly, isn’t my marriage my responsibility? Doesn’t it deserve to be a priority in my life? And the answer to both is undeniably, yes.
P.S. Today is the 10 year anniversary of our first date. Happy Halloween indeed!
fo shizzle
I love how honest you are with yourselves and then the ability to share with others. Four date nights is so much better than zero!