There was no affair. There's no screaming. From the outside, your marriage looks fine, you split the bills, manage the kids, show up to the dinners. But somewhere along the way, the two of you stopped really reaching each other. Conversations turned into logistics. Affection turned into habit. And lately you've caught yourself wondering whether this quiet, polite distance is just what marriage becomes.

Early in a relationship/marriage we listen with an intention to hear. We hang on every word and breath. We ask gentle questions that are meant to improve connection. If the relationship continues, we feel accepted. Eventually though, we stop hearing and revert to listening.