marriage – Porterhome

The Gift of Reflection: What Happens If You Write Down What Someone Means to You?

On my youngest child’s 18th birthday, I handed him three small notebooks, continuing a family tradition. For a year, I wrote daily entries reflecting on the recipient, chronicling what I loved and admired about them. I had previously done something similar for my spouse and his siblings.

This practice became a personal journey of growth, deepening my appreciation for my loved ones and strengthening our bonds. For my children, the notebooks also captured their transformation from adolescence to adulthood.

The Tale of Two Journals, One Marriage, and Four Lessons

A few years back, I attempted to write one thing per day that I appreciated and loved about my wife, Courtney. This would remain a surprise until Christmas morning. Then, on that glorious day, I would see her opening it. I would explain what the journal was. She would smile and maybe even shed aContinue reading “The Tale of Two Journals, One Marriage, and Four Lessons”