Wedding Date on Dec 18, 2021

I have always had a strong interest in spirituality + world religions except for Christianity which my mother raised me on. Alex + Holly put Jesus at the center of their relationship, which is where I typically draw the line of relatability. But considering how well we got along (Holly also lived in Indonesia + Alex likes to get philosophical over pizza), I started listening to see what I could learn. There is a specific bible verse cited during Christian weddings that we discussed. Part of it goes like this: “In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church because we are members of his body.” I translate this as we are all one, so treat everyone, especially your wife, as your own self… not because it’s the right thing to do but because we are all one being. This got me thinking… what if I treat Chie as if we are one body? What if I approach her problems as if they are my own? I know we are a team and one unit, but I consider myself a separate individual in that partnership. I try to help, and I mean well, but deep down, I think my problems and my time are more important than hers. Currently, I’m trying to rewire my brain to accept her problems, her successes, and her life as my own. I’m also ignoring the clock. So far, it’s leading to a lot more harmony and, surprisingly, efficiency. Next, I will try to expand this concept to all of my relationships, even to strangers. I’m also recognizing there is something to learn from everything, especially those things I avoid the most. Thoughts? Thank you Alex + Holly for your insightful conversations :)