by Kimberly Wolf

Created on: November 24, 2009

Appreciating your partner is a vital part of a successful marriage. It makes us feel valued and important to one another. When we don't feel appreciated, we often question our own self worth which can lead to feelings of hurt and neglect. Sometimes we tend to move from one thing to the next so quickly that we do not take the time to appreciate what the people around us do to make our lives easier. This is especially true of our spouses; the only members of our family that we actually get to pick to spend the rest of our lives with.

Something that many of us are guilty of is taking what we have for granted. We rarely think about the several loads of laundry that our spouse did the previous day when we grab a fresh shirt out of the closet. Some of us don't think about the long hours that our partners put in at work while we are purchasing a new outfit or a video game. Genuinely respecting what your spouse contributes to your life will make showing your appreciation come more naturally.

Everyone has their own way of showing their appreciation just as everyone usually has a way that they feel the most appreciated. It is up to us to find out the way that our husband or wife feel appreciated and we can do so by simply asking or using a system of trial and error. By trying different avenues of approach when it comes to expressing how much we appreciate our spouse, we can find out what makes them feel like we really appreciate what they do for us.

Being appreciative of our other half is not something that comes easy for everyone, it has to become a habit. No matter how busy our schedules make us during the day, it is important to carve out some time for our loved one to make sure that they feel appreciated for their efforts. Sometimes a simple acknowledgement of your spouse's contributions such as a thank you or a compliment towards their work will suffice.

As recipients of appreciative gestures, we should also appreciate the effort our spouse makes to let us know that they value us, even if they veer a little off target. The whole point of them demonstrating or verbalizing their appreciation is to make us feel loved and respected so we should treat their efforts to please us with care and respect as well.

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