101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married

What if you could learn important relationship lessons now, rather than after you make the mistakes that most couples make? You can, and this best-selling book will point the way!

Linda and Charlie Bloom were in their early 20’s when they met and fell in love. At twenty five they married and their first-born came eighteen months later.

According to Charlie, “We were young and we made a lot of mistakes; enough to fill a book.” Fast forward about twenty years. Charlie’s little sister Claire was about to get married and she invited him to read something inspirational at her wedding.

“I couldn’t find anything that felt like it really fit the occasion, so I asked Claire if I could come up with a few of the things that I wished someone had told me about before I got married. She agreed and that’s what I did. I came up with about 20 one-liners and read them at the wedding. The guests seemed to really like them and afterwards several people asked me if I would send them a copy of my notes. That was the beginning of the book.”

On the drive back North from LA, Charlie and Linda came up with a lot more one-liners and then more in the days immediately following the trip.

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Charlie: “Rather than continue adding to the list, we decided to cut the list back -by this time it had grown to almost 300! We added a short vignette of a couple of pages to each one, and just included the top 101 of them.”

Here are a few one-liners, without the stories:

  • Vulnerability is disarming
  • Commitment isn’t a prison, It’s a means to greater freedom
  • If you think You’re too good for your partner, Think again
  • Resisting the temptation to prove Your point will win you a lot of points
  • The prince isn’t going to come

and The amount of joy and fulfillment that is available in a loving partnership is considerably more that you can imagine!

101 Things is a collection of timeless wisdom that never grows old. It’s not only enlightening, but it’s easy and fun to read. Read it and discover what over 100,000 other readers have learned: that the creation of a great relationships does take some work but it’s worth the effort that it takes.. REALLYworth it!

Charlie: Rather than continue adding to the list, we decided to cut the list back -by this time it had grown to almost 300! We added a short vignette of a couple of pages to each one, and just included the top 101 of them.”

Here are a few one-liners, without the stories:

  • Vulnerability is disarming
  • Commitment isn’t a prison, It’s a means to greater freedom
  • If you think You’re too good for your partner, Think again
  • Resisting the temptation to prove Your point will win you a lot of points
  • The prince isn’t going to come

and The amount of joy and fulfillment that is available in a loving partnership is considerably more that you can imagine!

101 Things is a collection of timeless wisdom that never grows old. It’s not only enlightening, but it’s easy and fun to read. Read it and discover what over 100,000 other readers have learned: that the creation of a great relationships does take some work but it’s worth the effort that it takes.. REALLYworth it!

Praise for 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married

“This is an exceptional and outstanding book for strengthening, softening, and opening to the deeper intimacy, honesty, and mature love found in the sacred covenant of marriage and committed relationships. It is a practical, realistic, and inspirational resource for exploring, cultivating, and learning from and about the mystery of love.”
— Angeles Arrien, Ph.D., author of The Four-Fold Way

“This is excellent advice for all those considering marriage or those wanting to improve their relationship. Their willingness to examine the most painful aspects of our self-image and share the insights is to be admired. Treasure this book and the great hearts of Linda and Charlie.”
— Stephen and Ondrea Levine, authors of Who Dies? and Embracing the Beloved

“Practical, easy to understand nuggets that can help every marriage grow.”
— Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., author of Forgiveness: The Greatest Healer of All and Love Is Letting Go of Fear 

“In this fascinating book, Charlie and Linda Bloom offer wise guidance drawn from many years as couples’ therapists. Here is a book that will not only save you a lot of grief, it’ll help you find meaning in the grief you cannot and should not avoid.”

— Susan Campbell, author of Getting Real and Truth in Dating

“This is a wonderful book. I strongly recommend it as a uniquely useful guide to real partnership. I found it both moving and highly practical– a rare combination of wisdom, honesty, and sound advice, grounded in Linda’s and Charlie’s love for each other and their years of experience as counselors, it is engaging, empowering, and inspiring.”
— Riane Eisler, author of The Chalice and The Blade, Sacred Pleasure, and The Power of Partnership

“Marriage counselors and first-time authors, the Blooms nearly called their union quits in 1987; their anecdotes reflect the “acceptance, gratitude, and appreciation” that they employed to save it. Some of these honest, candid stories (many from the authors) are more illustrative than others, but most vividly demonstrate that successful relationships require effort. One such story, “Commitment Isn’t a Prison,” ponders the blessings of loving, supportive spouses. Another, “Its Not What You’ve Got; It’s What You Do With It,” describes how Bubba, despite being “short, homely, chubby, and bald,” receives his heart’s deepest desire in a sweet marriage. Other stories address friends, ultimatums, and irreconcilable viewpoints, all with the intent of heading off problems rather than fixing them. For libraries need to replace worn-out warm-fuzzies like Cheryl Richardson’s Life Makeovers.”

— Library Journal, Vol. 129 No. 1 January 2004

 
 
 
 

 

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