Usually, what we most fear doing is what we most need to do. That phone call, that conversation, whatever the action might be-it is fear of unknown outcomes that prevents us from doing what we need to do. Define the worst case, accept it, and do it. I'll repeat something might consider tattooing on your forehead: What we fear doing is most usually what we need to do. As I have heard said, a person's success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have. Resolve to do one thing every day that you fear.

Equal partnerships are not made in heaven—they are made on earth, one choice at a time, one conversation at a time, one threshold crossing at a time.

One of my marriage students said, "In our society, we place so much emphasis on a potential partner's sex appeal that we neglect or remember that after the honeymoon that we will actually have to live together and have basic conversation. I don't remember what I used to imagine marriage to be. I probably thought it was all about passionate kisses and candle light dinners. I mean what single person doesn't. However after almost three years of marital bliss, reality has set in. Yes, romance and affection are part of the package, but that is not what I love most about my husband. I love that we can carry on an intelligent conversation. That he'll do the dishes without being asked, that we can disagree without fighting. That he gets the baby to sleep every night. I am so grateful I like my husband. When all is said and done, it’s the day to day living that a couple needs to be able to do successfully. I would say that my marriage is 95% companionship, just enjoying being together, and 5% passionate kisses and candlelight dinners. And it varies from time to time too. The best marriage advice I ever heard was to marry your best friend. Oh, how true."

Remember that your blog is only incidentally a publishing system or a public website. At its heart, your blog represents the evolving expression of your most passionately held ideas. It’s a conversation you’re holding up with the world and with yourself — a place where you can watch your own thoughts take different shapes and occasionally surprise you with where they end up…