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Sun streams through the windows as Here Comes the Bride fills the room.
Everyone stands in reverence as the bride, a vision of loveliness, walks regally
down the aisle toward her awaiting prince. The fairytale wedding unfolds like a
choreographed storyline. The bride and groom exchange heartfelt vows, share a
gentle kiss and turn in unison as they hear, “I now introduce Mr. and Mrs…â€
Suddenly, they stop, glance at each other in slight alarm, and realize there is
no script for the next step.
Fairytale weddings are easy to achieve. Fairytale marriages are a different
story. In our country, we spend a lot of time and money getting ready for a
wedding. We spend much less time getting ready for marriage. The WAIT Training Colorado Healthy Marriage
Project(CHMP) is a community-based initiative to provide you with the
information and resources to help you create the marriage of your dreams.
Marriage is a big part of the American Dream, 90% of all individuals in the
United States marry at some time in their life.1 Studies show that the vast
majority (88%) are happily married and enjoying the benefits of friendship,
companionship, and love.2 Communities and children also thrive when couples form
healthy, safe marriages and families. But good marriages don’t just happen. Like
any good storyline, a fairytale marriage requires good planning, solid
commitment and the ability to adjust over time.
Marriages are ever-changing relationships with multiple characters
co-creating new storylines every day. Marriages take on lives of their own,
growing and maturing over time. The things you need to be fulfilled in your
relationship as a newlywed may be vastly different from the needs in a
twenty-year-old marriage. Based on current trends, young people getting married
today face a 40% to 50% chance of getting a divorce in their lifetime due to
marital distress.3 The CHMP is a network of community-based partners providing
resources and services to help you at every stage of your relationship to help
your marriage thrive. Take time now to assess your relationship.
Got a new proposal? Invest wisely. Before you say “I do,†check out this
section for resources to help you get your relationship started on the right
foot and to lay a solid foundation for a healthy marriage.
Got a stale mate? Refresh your
relationship. ~ This section provides tips and resources to develop and
maintain a strong marriage through its life cycles, including communication
tips, financial strategies, intimacy development and new ways to rekindle the
flame.
Got a lost love? Find it
again. ~ Learn how to rewrite your scripts and discover new ways to overcome
the stressors that can dim the love in a relationship. This section provides you
with information on conflict resolution, marriage education, counseling, and
more.
Imagine the possibilities in a world full of healthy relationships. The
Healthy Marriage Initiative is a national effort to provide research, resources
and services directly to individuals and communities to support the development
of strong, healthy families and communities. The latest in marriage and family
research and news.
The CHMP is excited to partner with you as you embark on the adventure of
writing or re-writing your love story. To make sure you have the greatest
potential for success, we have pulled together links to many national marriage
and family experts. Links to CHMP
partner organizations and other national experts.
Check out the CHMP calendar
of events to join with others across the state who are working on writing a
love story worth talking about.
Healthy marriages are mutually enriching relationships where
committed partners work to foster friendship, respect, ongoing growth, effective
communication and successful conflict management. Many studies identify the
following criteria as effective measures for assessing the health of a marriage. Read more about Healthy
Marriage
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