Is It Just Me?

For years I have heard the saying "Happy Wife, Happy Life". At times I have laughed, and thought how totally right it is! If you keep me happy, you will be happy, but what does that really mean?

Someone recently said this to me, in reference to her marriage, and it really made me think. As long as you are happy then he will have a happy life? What about him? Doesn't he deserve to be happy too?

Today at Lowes I was discussing tile with the gentleman that worked there and looked up to see Mark and Eliza no where in site. I continued to talk to the man while deciding on what flooring was best. When it came down to picking it, again Mark was gone. When I found him he said "just pick whatever you want, I don't care". I totally appreciate this, especially when I have something specific in mind, but I want him to be happy too. I picked out the tile I wanted, which he liked as well, and we went on our way.

After a few hours of sitting at home we were both bored out of our minds. He decided to be wonderful and keep Eliza busy in her play room and I tackled the entry way and painted it. He wasn't thrilled with me doing this, apparently there are plenty of other projects for me to finish, but like always he said...just do whatever you want. I went and grabbed some paint we had in the basement from a different room(that I never finished) and my roller and went to town. I called him up to put Eliza to bed and take a look, he wasn't thrilled. Apparently he thought I was painting it white(I have never painted a wall white). He doesn't mind the color but doesn't like the other colors it buts up to.

I finished painting but felt terrible that he didn't like it. This is his house too and of course I want him to like it. I agree it is a bit much with colors...in one area three walls come together and are camel, green, and grey with a burnt orange down the hall. Seeing as the paint was free, and I had all the supplies, we really aren't out anything if I decide to paint over it.

But this brings me back to "happy wife, happy life". Shouldn't it be Happy Couple, Happy Life? Just because I am happy doesn't mean he is. I want us both to be happy. So that means give and take, compromise, and communication.

The wall is going to stay the color it is for now, maybe I will paint one of the other ones to calm it down, but I will do what it takes to make it a happy life for us both!