Long-term relationships, whether they be personal or professional, have been under tremendous stress since the start of the pandemic. The same dynamics that typically produce rewarding relationships can also be turned around and used to negatively affect the parties involved. Keith and Lynn Macksey, CRNA, wrote Miracles in Marriage during COVID to explore the miracles that lie within these special relationships in our lives. Today we hear their story, learn from their experiences, and pick up a few tips and techniques that we can apply to our own relationships.
Click the timestamps below to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
On This Episode:
Relationships are difficult under the best of circumstances so we don’t have to tell you how much tougher things have been on everyone since the start of the pandemic. You might not hear it enough so we wanted to remind you that we’re all dealing with unique challenges that spill over into our relationships, and it’s not easy.
Our guests today know that very well. Keith and Lynn Macksey recently published a book called Miracles in Marriage: And Other Long-Term, Committed Relationships that they began writing during the pandemic. The book is based on the foundational belief that the treasures provided from a long-term relationship can’t be found anywhere else, and they provide wonderful insight into what it takes to maintain and grow with your partner.
With Keith’s experience as a management leader and trainer along with Lynn’s career as a CRNA, there are unique challenges that they understand about this profession and hope to share the tips and techniques that have worked for them.
As you get started on the episode, keep an ear out for these topics:
- The story behind why the book was written and how COVID helped.
- Background on Keith and Lynn’s relationship
- What they mean by the idea of ‘context drives content’
- How carrying past experiences into relationships can be damaging.
- Why not create a positive context through our words and beliefs?
- Being accountable for how you feel and why you feel that way.
- The common personality type found in a CRNA and how to relate to that.
- Who and what teaches us about relationships?
- Keys to communication
- How can keep from taking things personally when our partner points something out?
- Stories about trust and communication in Keith and Lynn’s relationship.
Check it out the interview at the top of the page and use the timestamps to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
3:33 – Why this topic?
4:46 – Story behind the book
9:35 – The value of the book
12:12 – Context drives content
15:38 – Story about one of the characters in the book
21:02 – Creating a positive context
24:45 – When you partner drives you nuts
31:04 – The CRNA personality type
37:00 – How we learn about relationships
40:16 – Where breakthroughs come from
47:35 – Taking things personally
56:09 – How age impacts things
1:00:51 – Ultimate veto
1:02:11 – Love is a verb not a noun
1:06:08 – Final thoughts
“We talk all sorts of stuff into existence, but that’s the negative side of it. The other thing that we learned from our mentors is, well, then if that’s true and we can create a context to support the content we want, why can’t we make it good?”
-Keith Macksey
