As I came up to the camp faucet a guy was just rinsing his dishes. Knowingly, I said, “I guess it’s your turn this morning, isn’t it?” With a twinkle in his eye he said, “Happy Wife Happy Life”
‘Happy wife happy life’, I hear this sentiment wherever we travel both in the States and abroad. Of course I agree, making our spouses happy does make for a happy life. Yet, somehow there is something deeper.
You guessed it. It is all about Life’s too Short. Find some Adventure. Make a Difference.
Tell me, is retirement all about narrowing in? To do all the little things that make your spouse happy so your life can be happy? Well of course. Yet, what about the opportunity to also expand that incredibly meaningful happy life together?
The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
~Dalai Lama
Because they think they are too old, I fear too many retired couples narrow in more than they continue to expand their lives, What an opportunity lost, to fight new battles together.
In our travels we meet all kinds of people having all kinds of experiences. For couples, we often find two kinds of attitudes; make each other happy or make a happy life together. The happiest are those who practice both.
SWAMBO is a curious term that kept showing up on a South African overlanding forum I frequent. Comments like; ‘You know, SWAMBO needs…,’ or ‘First, I must check with SWAMBO…,’ etc.
I thought, ‘What or who was a SWAMBO anyway. Is it Swahili or Zulu for something?’ Well after much searching there it was; SWAMBO; She Who Always Must Be Obeyed.
Of course, this tongue in cheek endearing phrase can be taken both ways with joy or resentment. I just hope your life together is all about adventure and making a difference AND making your SWAMBO happy.
Enjoy the day and do some good.
Russ Harris loves all things technical and making the world a better place, especially for Margrit.
