If there was ever a book that could help change your relationship in a week, this is the book. By applying some of the very simple techniques, you will see amazing results. This book will not only help you in your marriage or dating relationship, it will also help you to become a better friend in general. "Ideally, our relationship is one part of life that feels like a sanctuary - a partnership that is mutually nourishing and enriching both spiritually and emotionally." ~pg. 106

I noticed that when I changed, people around me started to change. It was as if this book contains those secrets we have all been looking for to improve all our relationships. There is a simple reason. This is written from the heart and deals with those real life issues we all care about. We all have that basic need to be unconditionally loved. Just to be loved and appreciated for who we are.

However, we have all developed habits that break down our connection with those important people in our lives. It is those little annoying habits that limit communication, take us down paths we don't want to follow that seem to cause the most problems. We repeat these habits over and over again, each time destroying a part of a relationship we care about.

At times we feel as if we are going to have to end a marriage or a friendship because the problems seem insurmountable. That is exactly the time we have to start to look at what "we" are doing to hurt or help our relationships. Those rare and beautiful friendships with people we really care about are so unique, I can't think of any reason not to put away our pride and start to mend the hurt we may have caused. Sometimes it means we have to say we are sorry or maybe we have to be willing to forgive the hurt others have caused us. The feeling of letting it all go is immensely rewarding and freeing.

You will be amazed by the depth in this tiny book. In a few hours, you will gain an immense amount of wisdom. Putting the 100 tiny meditations into practice might take a while. We all resist change.

What my husband and I decided to do, was to read the book with a highlighter in hand. First I read the book and marked the ideas I felt were important to me. Now he will read it and mark the sections he feels are important. Then we are going to work on various aspects of our relationship together.

"I've yet to see an instance where becoming more loving wasn't an idea worth considering." ~pg. 16

One of the most important ideas is to commit to being a "kind" person. Some of the other ideas I thought were quite helpful included: Thinking of what your partner is doing, instead of what he is not doing. Avoiding the temptation to connect loving praise with things that are bothering you.

Be willing to say "I'm Sorry" and Be willing to Forgive. Realize that being listened to is a profound human need. Don't be too serious. Learn to laugh at yourself. Eliminate defensiveness in your personality. Don't make people feel like they are constantly disappointing you.

If you are experiencing any frustration in your present relationship, this book will give you fast, easy solutions to changing your own outlook. By applying the principles, you will be amazed at how empowered you will feel when you take charge of your own destiny.

What a beautiful gift to humanity. I can't wait to read the entire "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" series.

-- Rebecca Johnson, M.Ed.