My boyfriend and I, while not married, have been together for over 20 years. We laugh about how we have been together longer than many married couples! We have a great relationship and love each other deeply, but, like most couples, can bicker, build up resentments and have trouble seeing eye to eye sometimes. So when I had the opportunity to read the book, “Pick Your Battles: Relationships” by Miles & Trisha Power, I thought “hey, why not?”
Well, I’m really glad I did! “Honey, I’m reading this book, Pick Your Battles and it might actually be helpful to us. I’ll let you know,” I told my boyfriend. Next thing you know, I’m using the strategies in the book, and they work like a charm! Wow! Everyone should read this book and not just for couple relationships … I think it would also work well for other relationships in your life.
The cover of the book says, “Make your relationship stronger … through fighting!” What? Well, maybe not actually ‘fighting’ but, as the subtitle of the book says, “A simple method for approaching and resolving conflict for a healthier, happier relationship.” Now, that makes sense.
As mentioned in the foreword of the book, “What it comes down to is most people just want to be listened to … Once you’ve listened, the door opens to figure out what’s important and what’s not important … Communication is the key, especially when the end goal is to thrive as a couple … Over the course of a relationship, there will be many misunderstandings and hardships. It’s best to pick your battles.”
The authors use great personal examples throughout the book (theirs as well as friends), starting with a bit of advice Miles was given on his and Trisha’s wedding day by a good friend and colleague, Todd. Todd said that “in marriage — in life, really — you’ve got to…