Bret Legg
Truth that makes a difference
Insights, tips, and updates from our team
Some of the best marriage advice I’ve ever received came from Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead. (For those who don’t know, The Grateful Dead is a psychedelic rock band that came to fame in the midst of the drug culture of the 60’s.) In…
Everyone goes into their wedding ceremony expecting to spend the rest of their life with the person standing next to them. They stand before the minister with heart pounding and knees knocking, believing their marriage will last…
I have a friend who, when asked how he’s doing, will say, “I’m living large!” I love that response, because it always sounds like a challenge to do the same. I want to be living large too, but what does living large really mean?
Is climate change affecting your marriage? These days, the subject of climate change is all over the media. Though there are differing opinions on the subject, one thing is for sure. Marital climate change is real.
Have you ever realized you missed something really important and ask yourself, “How did I miss it?” I grew up in a little farming community in southern Illinois, not far from Vincennes, Indiana. When you cross the Lincoln Memorial Bridge…
When it comes to marriage, there are some things you just don’t say…that is if you want a long happy life. Things like: “Gee honey, those jeans really do make you look fat.” “I told my dad there were some things you really could learn from…
Last week, I wrote a post entitled “Things Change.” The post was about the inevitability of change and how we should embrace it rather than fight it. As I looked back on that post, I realized I had talked about the principle of embracing…
It’s the thing sitcoms are made of. Out of the blue, your spouse approaches you with a gift, a big hug, and an “I love you!” Hesitantly you say, Thank you,” all the while wondering, “It isn’t my anniversary, is it?” Even if this has never…
How well do you adjust to change? Do you embrace it or fight it. Do you find yourself going with the flow or wishing things were like they used to be? It’s been said that the only constant in life is change. So, if you want to learn how to…
When I say your marriage needs more drive through, I’m not saying your marriage needs more fast food take out orders. (Although, how cool would it be if you could improve your marriage with more fast food?) No, I’m talking about…
Question: How do you know if a person needs encouragement? Answer: If they’re breathing. In other words, everyone needs encouragement. Young or old. Rich or poor. Famous or unknown. Introvert or extrovert. If a person is breathing, they…
What is Facebook really saying about you? Facebook gives away a lot more information about you than you realize. More than just your profile. More than just the pictures you post. More than just your likes and dislikes. More than just what…
Here’s a marriage riddle for you. (As if marriage wasn’t perplexing enough.) How is marriage like Facebook, makeup, and toothpaste? And the answer is not that both spouses need better profiles, wife’s need to use more makeup, and husbands…
I have a confession to make. As a guy, it’s a difficult confession to make, but here it goes…one of my favorite movies is “Under the Tuscan Sun.” There’s just something about this movie that captivates me. (And it’s not just Diane Lane.)…
Last night I learned of the suicide of Robin Williams. I was shocked and saddened by the news. I’ve always been in awe of his ability to riff and improvise on the spot. It’s confusing when someone with so much to live for can’t see a…
No, this isn’t a post about raising your IQ, as in your intelligence quotient. (I’m not the brightest bulb in the box, so I wouldn’t feel qualified to write about that anyway.) This is about raising your IQ, as in your impact quotient. We…
I’ve just realized that I failed to post the last Normal Marriage Class audio from back in March of this year. So sorry to have left this one off, since it not only finishes a conversation about dealing with in-laws but also deals with the…
I hear the word “partner” used a lot these days. People use the term when they’re married, but they also use the term when they’re just living together. I know the term “partner” is an attempt to be politically correct and inclusive, but…
When I was out for a walk the other morning, I found a small Batman action figure facedown in the middle of the road. It had been run over and was scarred and marred. I picked it up and set it to the side of the road so the child who owned…
I know it’s sort of a loaded question, but are you taking care of your spouse? Before you get offended, think about it for a moment. How would you answer that question? What first comes to mind?
About 3 months ago, Connie Plummer (a fellow staffer) sent me something to remind me of the importance of pausing occasionally in life. It was so relevant, I asked her for permission to use it as a guest post. So pause for a moment and…
When you’re dating, holding hands is one of the first big milestones. Getting there can be awkward, but once you’re holding hands, you feel it…”We’re a couple.” Holding hands when married can be much the same. It can be a little awkward at…
I know that’s kind of an odd question to ask, but think about it. What if you encountered the infinite daily? Would it scare you? Would you question your sanity? How would it change your outlook? How would it change how you lived? How…
Did you ever do any school lunch trading when you were a kid? You know…you look in the lunch bag your mom packed and you find something you really don’t want. Something you would like to trade for something else. Marriage can be that way.…