The Quiet Girl Who Changed My Life

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

My wife and I couldn’t be more different from each other. She’s sweet, and I’m savory. She’s calm and easygoing, while I’m hyped up and intense. I talk a thousand miles an hour but am very much an introvert, whereas she chooses her words carefully and is a social butterfly.

I remember when I first met her. It was April 1999, and I had just agreed to go on a blind date with my friend’s sister’s best friend. I was going through a rough phase in my life—one where I’d pretty much given up on romance and decided to focus entirely on work. One of my sisters kept insisting that I should start dating again. She even set me up with someone she swore would be a good match, telling me we were both Geminis and that I’d just been “looking for the right person in the wrong places.” I wasn’t sure what to think of that at the time, but I went along with it. The date was pleasant enough—she was kind, we had a good time—but there were no sparks.

Do They Need Advice — or Just a Hug?

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A few days ago, I encountered a note with a simple message: “Don’t give a lecture to someone who needs a hug.”

This simple phrase resonated deeply with me and sparked reflection on how I communicate with the people I care about most.

The Power of Listening

Often, people don’t want solutions when they’re upset; they want to be heard. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way through experiences with my daughters and in my marriage. When someone is struggling, my instinct is to jump in with advice, to fix the problem. But I’ve discovered that rushing to give advice often backfires.

Relationships on Og Maciel's Journal

The Quiet Girl Who Changed My Life

Do They Need Advice — or Just a Hug?

The Power of Listening