BWellcome

I’ve been bungee jumping. Haven’t been skydiving. I would think that bungee jumping is bit more of a rush, given that you can see the ground (from a bridge anyway – I’d love to bungee jump from a hot air balloon!).

I’m a firm believer that everyone needs to live outside their culture of origin, even if just for a few months. I lived in England for 2 1/2 years and learned so much just from hearing, seeing, experiencing different perspectives on politics, sports, spirituality/faith, etc. It really is amazing how blind we can be to our cultural assumptions and baggage.

Now my wife and I (currently living in Colorado) are headed to Ireland in a few weeks and I look forward to being able to live closer to some of my best friends who live in England. And I look forward to making new friends in Ireland and learning from that culture.

I think the best part of marriage is that it helps you re-define “being in love.” I’m surprised at how many people think that being in love is all about emotional or romantic or erotic feelings and physical attraction. I’ve fallen in love with my wife, but it has been in the context of learning how to communicate with one another and coming to grips with my own self-absorption. And I realize that as that continues to happen, I’ll keep falling in love with her. Because as I’m changed by our relationship, she is too. That creates a bond that is so much deeper and substantial than physical attraction or fuzzy emotional feelings (both of which are still there.)