Notes from Chapter 9 of Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Marriage":

• Reframing means perceiving a situation or event differently than you did originally or differently than it is usually viewed.  While you do not always have control over external factors, you always have the ability to reframe.  Every situation and occurrence that creates a negative reaction ( Read more... )

Notes from Chapter 8 of Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Marriage":

• The rest of your life begins this very moment.  Regardless of what you have ever said or done in the past, you can presently make new and better choices in every area of your life.  Whatever you say or do now is going to be part of the foundation of your future.  From now on you can be ( Read more... )

Notes from Chapter 7 of Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Marriage":

• Be resolved to accept the birthright that Hashem gave you from the moment you were born: The birthright of having been created in His image, the birthright of being His child, and the birthright of viewing the entire universe as having been created for you.  The Creator has given you infinite ( Read more... )

This camera: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/673587-REG/Fujifilm_16018645_HS10_10MP_Digital_Point.html#specifications

It's the newest Fujifilm version of my old camera, and I am IN LOVE with it.  It has so many fun features my old one didn't have, plus it meets all my needs and I know it's a good product because every digital camera I've ever owned ( Read more... )

Notes on chapter 6 of Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Marriage":

• People have different feelings about what a quarrel is. Some people enjoy as lively give and take, while others feel this is a quarrel.  If either spouse in a marriage considers something to be a quarrel, then there is a quarrel.
• Sometimes you just have to agree to disagree.
• When you see that ( Read more... )

Notes from chapter 5 of Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Marriage":

• "Develop the habit of seeing other people as they see themselves.  All anger, all hatred, all quarrels arise because a person views the situation from his own perspective and fails to see himself from the viewpoint of the other person...

"Seeing things from the other person's point of view ( Read more... )

Notes from Chapter 4 of Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Marriage":

• Think about the outcome you want before you say anything. You not only want your spouse to do something, you also want their goodwill.
• Thinking is free, so use your brain as much as you can.
• Omit unnecessary words. When you and your spouse are feeling distressed, the more words you say, the ( Read more... )

Notes from Chapter 3 of Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Marriage":

• 5-word key to a joyous marriage: "Don't cause pain, give pleasure."
  • Tehillim 34:15 says this in 4 words: "Sur mei'ra, va'asei tov." "Keep away from evil, and do good."
• A lesson on how not to cause pain: Sit quietly for 30 seconds without saying one word. Have a fairly pleasant expression on ( Read more... )

Notes from Chapter 2 of Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Marriage":

• R'Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler said that the key to a successful marriage is for each partner to always try to make the other happy.  But when one constantly makes demands of the other, happiness will not be theirs.
• Rabbi Chaim Friedlander, zt"l, of the Ponovezh Yeshiva said, "If you are going to ( Read more... )

While I was in Montreal, a friend in Israel recommended I check out Rabbi Twerski’s book on the first year of marriage. I went to the Jewish library and while I was there, figured I’d pick up Pliskin’s tome on the same topic. Rabbi Twerski’s book didn’t impress me much. Rabbi Pliskin’s book did.  It seemed so filled with priceless advice, not just ( Read more... )