Having been married now for about two and a half years, I've been thinking a lot about this new phase that Joey and I are in.  It's now beyond the wedding and our relationship is going deeper into the phase called Marriage!  We are starting a series on what it means to be have an "Eco/ Sustainable Marriage".  I met Calleen on Facebook and asked her to kick off our series.  I would love to hear from you!  What does it mean to you to have a Sustainable Relationship?  What happens after the Eco-Wedding?  Send us your tips and stories.  Thank you, Stacie

5 Principles of Sustainable Relationships
By Calleen A. Morris
 
1-   Change is inevitable:  Couples may be at the infatuation stage, with heightened optimism when they marry. It is an exciting and important part of the relationship! However, relationships are constantly evolving. By accepting and attending to change, couples can guard against relationship deterioration.

2-   Reestablish:  Declare a date of establishment for your family. (Two make a family!) No matter how long it has been since you left the family home, you are now reestablishing yourselves as a distinct family unit.

3-   Redefine: Regularly evaluate and redefine your relationship overtime. Relationships have their own life-cycle. Redefinition helps the relationship remain flexible to avoid difficult stretches and strains.   Nurture the relationship through change. (Be diligent in planning alone time).

4-   Renew: Pay attention to your Family Relationship Footprint. Commit to reducing the baggage for those who follow behind you. Do you want to encourage remorse and regret, or a renewing of generations?  Ask yourselves, “Is this decision good for my marriage?  Will my choices enhance, or undermine the commitment I have made?”

5-   Reliance: Rely on the strengths of your relationship which brought you together. Look to the relationship; look inwardly toward each other rather than to outsiders when change occurs. Chances are you already have resources within to resolve conflict and keep it together.

The Sustainable Family: an organization of relationship and sustainability experts which help families share what works in changing times!  The Sustainable Family’s values its core belief that family members do not have to lose what they cherish in each other because of tough times; that there is a process for sustaining and holding on to what works, and to reduce the devastating effects of life’s challenges. 

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