How to revive our relationship so we can deal with the political crisis

Dear friend,
As you well know
our country is in crisis.

We are being assaulted
by persons committing treason.

In defiance of our Constitution
a brazen coup
has been conducted
at lightning speed
by Elon Musk.

The coup
has the full support
of Donald Trump.
It serves his vengeful purposes.

The government functions
of our Republic
have been invaded and taken over
by a band of programmers
led by Musk.

They now have access and control
of our payment systems
and all our personal financial data.

All it will take
for opponents of Trump
to be set up for retribution

is the enemies list
being drawn up by Kash Patel.

[News Bulletin as I write:
a court order has been issued
by a federal judge
to stop Musk.]

The danger is real

Even those of us
who try to ignore this crisis
can’t.

The speed and breadth
of Trump’s destructive assault
on the Constitution
is unprecedented.

It is a political blitzkreig.

None of us knows
what is going to happen.

None of us knows
what will be done to us
to our fellow citizens
and to the world

without the safeguard
of our Constitution.

We do not know
how we can best
protect all we cherish.

We do not know
how we can protect/restore
the power of our Constitution.

Though we know
many of the constructive actions
we need to take to resist

we have yet to hear
a sound strategic plan
put forward by a leader
of any party

for how we will defeat
the forces out to destroy
our Republic.

In these anxious days

You and I are unlikely
to be at our best
in these anxious days.

This is entirely understandable.

We feel waves of grief, rage,
guilt, exasperation and helplessness.

Our love relationship
—if we are so fortunate to have one—

is likely suffering
from the strain.

The political crisis
only adds further pressure
to any difficulties already present.

If we are not in a love relationship
the essence of this letter
applies the same to a relationship
with a friend or family member.

If things just aren’t right

Maybe since the election
or maybe since before that

we may have been feeling
“things just aren’t right anymore”
in our relationship.

Somehow the color has faded.

It isn’t quite as joyful when we laugh.

Being together
isn’t quite as much fun
as it used to be.

We know
we’re with a good person.

We know
we’ve built a strong foundation
for our relationship.

But we have to admit
that during these last stressful months

our relationship has been been
feeling kinda flat.

Should we bring this up?

Shall we launch into a big discussion
with our partner
about our faded feelings?

I don’t reckon we need to.

They already know
we are not feeling
like a shining light.

They probably
aren’t either.

It’s no big deal

Actually, our diminished glow
is no big deal.

All relationships
go kinda flat
from time to time

and especially when under pressure.

This is normal.
No need to panic.

A little wilting of our relationship
during stressful times
may feel like a setback.

But a setback
just a setup
for a comeback.

All it will take
for us to
launch a comeback

is a little creativity.

Think back to the beginning

The first thing to do
is think back.

Think back to the early days
of your relationship.

Take the time
to recall and savor
your favorite memories.

Make a list of activities
you used to do together.

Back at the beginning
of your relationship

when you were
full of hope and joy.

Maybe you
went for long walks or hikes together

went bike riding

went out on a boat and fished

took your dog to run outdoors

went on adventurous little road trips

went camping in the wilderness

had weenie roasts over a campfire

had long talks over coffee

had breakfast in bed

went to church together

went out to the movies

went dancing

went to rock concerts

sang songs together

searched for little stones on the beach

held hands and watched the sunset together…

Remember everything…

and write down
whatever you did
big or small

that lit you both up.

Now comes the question

OK.
You have remembered
all your favorite ways
to spend time
with the person
you love.

Now ask yourself:

How many of these activities
are we still doing?

If your answer is

…Uh…
….

I have good news for you.

You can revive
your relationship
just by starting to do
those things again.

By itself
this won’t solve
long standing problems.

Nor will it solve
how you can best serve
your country

right now
when she needs you.

What it will do
is give you the energy
and ignite your desire

to do both.

Don’t take my word for it

Take the word
of the person
who thought up the idea.

His name is Mort Fertel.

Fertel is a relationship therapist.
One of the best in the business.

He says
that in his work with couples
he has discovered

that many of the barriers
holding couples back
from building stronger relationships

and stronger lives

simply dissolve
when they resume doing

the happy activities
that brought them together
in the first place.

Give yourself the green light

Simple? Yes.
No big discussion needed.

You can take
this beautiful step right now.

All you need to do is initiate
with a warm and generous heart

an activity your partner
used to love to do with you.

Ask your partner
to initiate the next one.

Lead each other forward
doing meaningful things
you did before

or move on
to explore brand new paths

that will bring you
even closer together.

Your new stage of growth

Either way
you are immediately
in a new stage
of growth.

Just in time.

Your relationship
gets a fresh new start
—reconnected and revived.

You and your loved one
are strengthened

as individuals
and as a couple

to bravely face together
the serious challenges
of the political crisis
we are now in the midst of.

Growing closer together
will make you
more emotionally solid
to make wise decisions

on the strong actions
you must take

to join with our fellow Americans
to restore our Republic.

Blessings,

Dr. Hall