Flirting – A Super Power
Do you ‘flirt’ with each other?
How?
Our Experience
I really like my dental hygienist. She cleaned my teeth just the other day. She does a great job. She has been my hygienist for over fifty-two years.
I tried to flirt with her while she worked on my teeth. Through my protective, shaded glasses, I looked into her eyes. She was very focused. But she noticed.
“Quit looking at my eyes,” Libby said with some irritation.
Years ago, her reaction was different. She would blink, look into my eyes a little sheepishly, and playfully say, “Stop it.”
But she was in a hurry because we had to go pick up our grandson.
Does flirting with each other add value to a marriage?
Let’s ask AI.
“Yes, healthy flirting with each other can add significant value to a marriage, especially in long-term marriages. Many couples unintentionally let flirting disappear once the responsibilities of work, children, careers, and aging take center stage. Yet flirting is one of the simplest ways to preserve a sense of friendship, romance, and playfulness.”
Is your marriage stuck in a transactional loop. Is your relationship positive enough to have space for flirting?
Let’s take the next two weeks to refresh our marriage by getting good at playful flirting.
If we do, we will have a stronger emotional connection.
Why?
Flirting increases our feelings of affection.
Flirting creates emotional warmth.
Flirting nurtures our friendship.
Flirting builds anticipation for being together.
John Gottman, the renowned marriage researcher has shown that daily, positive interactions are one of the keys to a strong marriage.
“But this flirting thing sounds like just another way I’m going to fall short,” Libby says.
Tune in next week to see if I can turn what feels like pressure to her into opportunity.
My home office is cluttered at the moment with the contents of the closet, which I am cleaning.
Libby’s observation?
“You sure have plenty of Cologuard boxes” she says. (Unopened)
Then she gives me a kiss and asks,
“Is that flirtatious enough for you?”
Wish me luck.
Mark
