Lesson from Malta: Don’t expect your relationship to fix what life has fractured.
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One couple observed that so many of their friends expected too much from their marriages and inevitably ended up disappointed.
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“If you make your marriage your entire life, it puts too much pressure on something that’s meant to be shared joy as opposed to your sole source of it. They think their relationships are broken, but sometimes they just need more support outside of it.”
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Before you blame your partner or assume your relationship should fill every emotional or energetic gap, check in with your life.
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Your rest.
Your joy.
Your community.
Your purpose.
Your passion.
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Your marital relationship is one part of a fulfilling life — not the container for all of it.
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I’m always so impressed with the guests aboard the Desire Cruise. Next sailing: Athens to Rome in the fall with special guest @ditavonteese! More info on this clothing-optional, erotic-themed couples’ cruise via the link in my bio.

Lesson from Mallorca: Let stuff slide. This simple (in theory!) insight comes up often among happy couples. The way they express it ranges from “don’t sweat the small stuff” to “focus on what you LOVE when you’re feeling frustrated”. And my favourite version comes from a repeater couple aboard the Desire Cruise. “If you overanalyze every issue and every disagreement, you’ll turn into one another’s therapists and passion will disappear. You can’t be their therapist, so don’t try to repair every rift. Focus on the important issues, so you have energy left for pleasure and play.” More lessons to come & you’ll find more info on Desire Cruises via the link in my bio. Be sure to follow my friend and colleague, @taty_k_king 💫

Quick lesson from Valencia with Desire Cruises: Notice what’s working in your relationships. One happy couple explained, “we track our wins — not just our supposed losses. Every argument that ends in reconciliation and every tough conversation that leads to deeper understanding is worth noticing. It’s not toxic positivity. It’s our way of ensuring we don’t fall into the negativity loops that others struggle with. And we’re doing something right after 27 years!”
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Their approach made me think of the “broaden and build” theory suggesting that
positive emotions expand our capacity and help us build deeper connections, resilience, and intimacy over time. In relationships, this means celebrating the good pays off not only in the moment, but over the long term.
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More lessons from the Desire Cruise to come because these couples are living the dream! Find more info about the cruises in my bio links.