Everyone likes to be appreciated.  When someone expresses appreciation to us, we are energized and generally want to do even more and do it better.  We tend to gravitate to those who appreciate us.  When we express appreciation we purposefully pay attention to those blessings in our life and positive traits/ behaviors that others in our life contribute.  Too much of the time we either do not pay attention or we get exclusively focused on the negative.
All of our relationships would likely benefit from a dose of appreciation.  Think of how nice it would be if you were appreciated at work  One of the best ways to contribute to that culture is to become more appreciative yourself.  You will feel better and your workplace enviornment will more pleasant and positive as well.
In our marriages, appreciation is one of the daily disciplines/ mechanisms for enhancing the connection.  That  connection is associated with our overall sense of security and well-being.  Take the challenge.  Determine to add to the connection in your relationships by expressing appreciation.  You will be glad you did.
Next: Affection

It was a good time in Lake Charles yesterday at the Connections Count Conference hosted by the Family and Youth Counseling Agency.  It was especially fun to see a few friends that I had not seen in quite some time and to have my wife along in support as I was privileged to present on Couple Counseling which is so geared toward assisting couples increase their levell of connectedness.  A good first step is simply by keeping one another abreast of the mundane, routine events of life - staying on the same page - making sure your calendars are in sync - sharing interesting tid bits of your day (or maybe not even so interesting tid bits! - just sharing).  This does not take much time.  No more than 10-15 minutes per day, but what it does take is intentionality and tends to be more consistent when an agreed upon time to which both partners commit.  That's all there is to "Sharing New Information"!
Next: Appreciation

This is the start of a series of posts on relationship.
If you want an increased connectedness with your partner and I would like to emphasize all that "partner" implies, I offer the following:
Be kind and courteous.  We often treat strangers and acquaitences better than we do our spouses or family members.  It does take some intentionality, but it is there that LOVE resides - giving up the demand for your immediate desires to be met immediately in deference to what your partner needs or desires!  Thinking before we speak and act in order to avoid reactionary retaliation.  Giving up the myth of fairness.  In so doing, we love ourselves and promote the very human relationship that is of utmost priority and therefore; we enhance our spiritual relationship as well.  So, be kind and courteous.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Proverbs 16:24 Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, live in harmoney with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Next: Sharing New Infomation.

I am looking forward to being in Alexandria today to present "Self-Worth and Happiness: Keys to Recovery" as a NASW-LA sponsored training.  I am posting this for the purpose of any discussion, feedback or comments following the presentation.

Sean Christopher Shea in his book, Happiness Is, says this:  “Compassion is the soul of the Human Matrix (biological, psychological, interpersonal, environmental and spiritual).  Compassion is deeply imbedded in the biology of our brains.  We are hardwired social animals.  When we care, we come to life, as do the circuits of our brains.  It is the cornerstone of the  psychological wing of the matrix.  Huge amounts of our thoughts and beliefs deal with our relationships with others, and the effort to make the world a better place for them.  It is the drive in the interpersonal wing of the matrix.  We are made to hold and to be held; to care and to be cared for.  It is the wellspring of the environmental wing of the matrix.  We are built to create families, communities and environments that we nurture.  And, of course, compassion is at the very heart of the spiritual wing of the matrix. 
Some would argue that it is the mirror of the soul.”

Human Matrix