What Basketball Teaches Us About Marriage

Whenever I start working with a couple, I let them know that I am committed to the quality of their connection with each other, their teamwork and their partnership over time. If I were a basketball coach, I’d be committed to the same thing. What can we learn from the game of basketball in this […]

Stupid Fights

Martha and I have been married for over 41 years. In that time, we have had some pretty stupid fights. Of course, our arguments are never stupid when we are in the middle of them; they’re only stupid after the fights are over and we’ve had time to reflect. There was the time early in […]

The Partnership Marriage Webinar Series

Starting on February 17, 2016, I will be facilitating The Partnership Marriage Webinar Series designed specifically for individuals and couples interested in exploring partnership in marriage or in committed relationship. Participants will explore marriage as a life-long conversation for partnership and learn the conversational tools outlined in my book, The Partnership Marriage: Creating the Life You […]

The Art of a Good Marriage

A Poem by Wilferd Arlan Peterson Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In marriage the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day. It is never going […]

Phase 1: Falling into Us

Several years ago, I was sharing with a group of couples in one of my workshops about my second date with Martha, when we attended a community theater production of “Some Like it Hot.” I shared with them that it was on that date when Martha and I first fell in love. Martha, who was […]

Six Radical Shifts in Marriage

Marriage has been transforming over the last four hundred years. The institution of marriage has changed as a reflection of evolving human ideals and social ideas of society. Specifically, there are six radical shifts that have taken place in the evolution of the marriage since the first Europeans came to America. Civil marriage is invented. […]

Increased Divorce Rate Among Baby Boomers

My wife, Martha, and I are baby boomers. Many of our good friends are baby boomers. We are in that cohort of Americans born after World War II between 1946 and 1964. This year the youngest baby boomers are turning 50 years old! The oldest of us are closing in on age 70 years. As […]

Marriage Defined

I looked up the dictionary definition of marriage today. “Marriage is the formal union of a man and a woman, usually recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife.” My next thought was that definition is going to have to change in the coming years. “Marriage is the formal union of two people, […]

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I am looking forward to being together with family and eating bountifully. As usual, this holiday comes at a very busy time of the year for Martha and me and reminds me just how seldom I give thanks for anything, let alone the wonderful life we have. Martha, I […]

Connecting to Us Couples Retreat

I am happy to announce that a colleague of mine, Joanie Yanusas, and I are facilitating a couples retreat on the second weekend in October at a peaceful and beautiful venue in Elmira, New York.  Joanie is a certified professional coach and Retreat Leader whom I met at a leadership course several years ago. She […]