Bare feet and Protecting your relationship

As a safety conscious motorcyclist I cringe when I see people riding in less than safe clothing.  During the summer it is not unusual to see people on motorcycles in shorts, bikini tops, tank tops, and flip flops.  The other day I even saw a girl up on the back seat of a sport bike in bare feet.  Yes, I understand leathers are not physically cool and you can't get a tan through them, but skin grafts aren't cool, and it is my understanding scars don't tan well.

There is an old adage about motorcycle riders: there are two kinds, those who have been in an accident, and those who haven't been in one, yet.  I belong to the former and I thank my helmet and leathers whenever I think about it.

What does this have to do with relationships?  Well, I think there are two types of relationships: those who have been tempted to cheat and those who have yet to be tested.

As I have written before, every person in a relationship has the chance for infidelity.  There are temptations everywhere- work, friends, parties, even family.  Sometimes it is your own behavior that opens the door, sometimes it is another person's.  What matters is the precautions you have taken (or not) to safeguard your relationship.

Like wearing a good helmet, jacket, and pants on a motorcycle, the things you do to keep your relationship safe matter most when they are tested.  You want to bet when I hit the pavement at over 55 miles per hour my clothing was tested.  To see the helmet, check this post. 

You are protecting your relationship when you...

• are realistic about your relationship (good and the bad)
• talk to your spouse about your feelings - all of them
• make goals and plan together with your partner
• share your thoughts on multiple subjects
• use healthy relationship skills
• act lovingly toward your spouse
• keep things that belong in the marriage in the marriage
• stop negating and start appreciating
• want what you have 
• think about your relationship

 By doing these things you create a relationship that will stand up much better to the temptations of the world.

Mind you, the shorts and bare feet may feel more comfortable; in other words, not doing these things for your relationship may seem easier.  However, you will show the marks (or your relationship will) when you dump into temptation.  That is why you prepare and protect.  That is why I don't have skin graft sites all over my body, and the guy in the picture above is going to be hurting much less than he could be.

Your courageous work is to build the type of relationship that will stand against temptation.  A relationship that you enjoy and guard.  A relationship that will bring you happiness in a way that makes you keep coming back.  You see, I still love to ride (and still can ride) because I didn't go through unneeded pain.

Click the comment button below and tell us what you think!

(No links in comments, please- they will be deleted.)

Sign up for my exclusive newsletter here