You Had Me @ "Challenge"

I like challenges. I'm a bit competitive, in a friendly way of course. I would never yell, "You suck!" at you while playing Euchre if you lost a hand or two. If I gloat, I do it quietly, but I'm more competitive with myself than my neighbors unless you happen to rub me the wrong way before a race.

So when it comes to resolutions I do better during Lent because 40 days of suffering is a challenge to me while an entire year is a lifestyle change and I'm too old for that. For 40 days I can pick something really difficult to give up and know that it will end. Like a hot, hilly 10 mile trial run-I'm bound to hit the finish line sooner or later. So when I came across this I thought what an interesting and atypical dare it would be for me.

Our marriage is in a good place right now but Chesaning thought Parshallburg Bridge had a good foundation too, so I figure if I can make the important things in my life a bit stronger I can only be better for it. And really, 4 days into the 40-day Love Dare Challenge and it hasn't been difficult at all. I didn't tell Vinnie I was participating in the challenge and that makes it even better because he isn't expecting anything and when you don't expect anything that leaves room for being pleasantly surprised.

In case you don't check out the link here is what the first four days involved:

Day 1-Resolve to say nothing negative about your spouse today.
Day 2-Do at least one unexpected gesture to your spouse as an act of kindness.
Day 3-Buy your spouse something that says, "I was thinking about you today."
Day 4-Contact your spouse sometime during the day and ask how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

It may seem kind of cheesy but it has actually been kind of fun to check my mail first thing in the morning and be given a quest that forces me to be present in my marriage all day long or at least during my run while I plan what my "gift" to Vinnie will be that day. Sometimes it is too easy to plod along with our spouses until a crisis is evident or a romantic getaway has been planned. These 40 days will require intentional interactions and I don't think I'll be backing down anytime soon.