Human beings spend time with who and what they care about. One crucial mechanism we use to express love is to spend our most valuable asset, our time, with what and who we love. Think of a young man or woman with a new car - how much time do they spend washing it, looking at it, driving it, sitting in it? Why do they do that? Because they love their first car, or at least most do. My first car was affectionately referred to by my friends at “the soupcan.” It wasn’t anything to boast about, that’s for sure, yet I still loved it and spent time thinking about it and driving it. Now take this concept and apply it to your marriage. One way to absolutely improve your marriage is by spending time with the person.

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However, spending time isn’t enough. What you do with your time together is another crucial element. Obviously taking your loved one to a very nice restaurant and then to an activity they love like dancing or watching a movie will be great. Taking them to the dumpster at a local supermarket and then out for some frog hunting most likely will not have the same impact. So, it is empirically important to be choosy about what you spend your time doing.

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Some people like cities, some people like nature, some people like both. If you and your spouse are either of the latter two, then a trip into the Grand Canyon may be the perfect ticket. Here’s why. It’s time away from everything that is familiar. Getting away from everything familiar is like rolling down the window in a hot, stuffy car - it allows a fresh perspective, time outside of the stressful elements of our everyday lives. In the bottom of the Grand Canyon, there are no taxes due, no crying kids, no angry bosses. There is only the soft murmur of the wind through the grass and cottonwoods, the swirling of the Colorado River, the silence of the star-speckled night.

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The second reason is that it is an adventure. Helen Keller said “life is either a grand adventure or nothing at all.” The word “life” could easily be exchanged for the word “marriage.” Marriage is either a grand adventure or nothing at all. Why not take your spouse on an adventure? Hike or raft into the Grand Canyon and see what happens! You have no idea what kind of juice and life it could bring out in your relationship!

Fitness is a factor, so be sure you are in good shape. There are plenty of great outfitters that offer guided tours in the Canyon if you lack the skills and experience to do it safely. There is a mule-service that can carry your gear down, and if you don’t want to camp you can stay in the cabins at Phantom Ranch. If your fitness level is low, then a rafting trip is probably the way to go. Regardless of how you do it, this time will be one you and your spouse won’t soon forget. No, it’s not the Ritz Carlton, and that’s precisely why it will be so beneficial!