Last week, my spouse and I celebrated our 30th anniversary with a trip to Calgary and Banff National Park. We marveled at the beautiful scenery, enjoyed some amazing hikes, and appreciated the break from work and other responsibilities. And we also used the time to reflect on our past, celebrate the present, and dream about the future.
Over the years, we’ve been blessed with so much: three amazing kids, meaningful work, and a life filled with love and purpose. We’ve also weathered challenges: illnesses of friends and family, significant losses, differences of opinion, and professional hurdles.
Through it all, a few themes stand out:
- Maintain an “I’ve got you” mindset. No matter the obstacle, we’ve always committed to having each other’s backs.
- Act as one team. Instead of viewing differences as battles to win, we’ve approached them as puzzles to solve together.
- Commit to continuous growth. We’ve embraced change, learned from hard seasons, and celebrated growth—in ourselves and each other.
While we focused on the personal during our trip, the same core lessons apply well beyond marriage. How do we show up for each other? How do we navigate obstacles? How do we learn from our mistakes? The answers to those questions shape the culture we create—in our families, friendships, communities, and workplaces.