1 True Talks
1 True Talks
Why Fun is the Secret Ingredient for a Thriving Marriage
Remember when you first fell in love? Those days filled with spontaneous adventures, inside jokes, and laughter over the smallest things? Somewhere along the way, between managing bills, coordinating schedules, and tackling life's responsibilities, many marriages transform into business partnerships rather than joyful companionship.
This episode uncovers why fun isn't just a nice addition to your marriage—it's absolutely essential. The simple truth is that couples who play together tend to stay together. We explore why joy isn't just emotionally beneficial but spiritually significant as well. As Galatians 5:22 reminds us, joy is a fruit of the Spirit, making playfulness in marriage not a distraction from spiritual growth but evidence of it.
When marriage feels heavy, laughter serves as medicine. It builds intimacy, breaks tension, and reinforces that foundational friendship that brought you together in the first place. I share practical, accessible ways to reintroduce fun into your relationship—from weekly date nights and inside jokes to adventure jars filled with activities you can pull from when connection feels distant. The goal isn't perfection; it's connection. Fun creates the bridge back to friendship, and friendship is the soil where love continues to grow and flourish.
Don't wait for fun to find you—make it happen! Schedule it, prioritize it, and protect it as if your marriage depends on it. Because in many ways, it does. Fun might not fix everything, but it fuels everything by reminding you both that marriage isn't just about surviving together; it's about enjoying the journey side by side. What small moment of joy will you create in your relationship this week?
Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and president of 1 True Match. I'm here to help you find and cultivate the love of your life. For over a decade, I've dedicated my life to the importance, purpose and dynamic of human relationships. My team and I are disciplined by faith, love and integrity to help our clients find the quality relationship they've always dreamt of. Each week, I will be sharing the tools and tips I've learned that have rooted my success as a matchmaker with other leaders around the world.
Renee Richel:Hello loves, welcome back. I hope you've had an uplifting and powerful week. Today we're going to dive into why fun is the secret ingredient in marriage. I'm so excited about this topic and episode today. It's lighthearted, joyful, but also so important. Today we're talking about the secret ingredient to a thriving marriage fun, that's right. Laughter, playfulness, inside jokes, silly moments, joy because the truth is, couples who play together tend to stay together. Couples who play together tend to stay together.
Renee Richel:So if you've been feeling like your relationship has gotten a little too serious, a little too business-like, a little too boring or just weighed down by responsibilities and daily routines, this one's definitely for you. Let's be honest when you first fall in love, having fun comes naturally. You're dating, you're going on adventures, you're trying new restaurants, you're laughing over the smallest things. But then life happens Kids, work, bills, schedules. Before you know it, your relationship starts to feel like a business partnership instead of a friendship. Anymore, all you talk about is groceries, budgets and who's picking up the kids, but you forget to just be silly together and enjoy one another's company.
Renee Richel:In Ecclesiastes 3: 4, it reminds us there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Yes, there's a time for deep talks and spiritual growth, but there's also time for just laugh, let loose and enjoy each other. Laughter builds connection, playfulness relieves stress and fun reminds you why you fell in love in the first place. Sometimes we think laughter is less spiritual than prayer or study. But did you know that joy is actually a fruit of the spirit? In Galatians 5:22, it says but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, joy isn't a distraction from your spiritual life. It's a sign that the Spirit is at work and your joy is your marriage. That's a gift from God. Laughing together builds intimacy. It breaks tension. It says we're still friends even in the chaos. Fun doesn't mean immaturity. It means staying connected because in the long run, it's not just the couples who pray together that stay together, it's also the couples who have fun together. Fun cultivates more memories with one another to cherish for years to come.
Renee Richel:So you may be thinking, renee, how do we actually bring the fun back into our marriage? Here's a few simple ideas. To get started, have a weekly date night, even if it's 30 minutes at home, playing a silly card game together. Have inside jokes. Bring back the phrases or moments that make you both crack up. Send funny texts during the day to make your spouse smile. Don't take yourself too seriously Messing up dinner. Laugh about it. Have an adventurous jar. Write down some fun activities you like to do with your spouse and pull one out of the jar each week. Try something new together Dance class, miniature golf or even a puzzle. Remember the goal isn't perfection, it's connection. Remember the goal isn't perfection, it's connection. And if you're thinking we've grown apart, we don't even know how to have fun anymore, it's okay, just start small.
Renee Richel:Sometimes laughter is the result of choosing joy first, not waiting for it. Proverbs 17:22 says a cheerful heart is good medicine. But a crushed spirit dries up the bones. When marriage feels heavy, laughter is medicine. It's not a cure-all, but it's a heart softener. It helps you both exhale and remember you're on the same team.
Renee Richel:Especially in tough seasons, choosing to laugh together helps heal wounds and soften hearts. Fun is the bridge back to friendship and friendship is the soil where love keeps growing. And when love keeps growing, the garden of your marriage can begin to flourish. So in conclusion, today I want to challenge you Don't wait for fun to find you. Go, make it happen, schedule it, prioritize it, protect it, like your marriage depends on it Because, honestly, it kind of does. Fun might not fix everything, but it fuels everything, it restores joy, it reminds you that marriage isn't just about surviving, it's about enjoying the journey together. It's about enjoying the journey together. Thank you so much for joining me today on 1 True Talks. Here's to laughing more, loving more and remembering that fun is not optional, it's essential. Until next time, keep God at the center and don't forget to smile a little more this week.
Renee Richel:Next week we're going to talk about money talks, a kingdom approach to money and marriage. You definitely don't want to miss that talk. I hope you have a fantastic, beautiful week and spread your wings in love and message to others. I can't wait till our next chat. God bless.
Renee Richel:It's been another great talk on this episode of 1 True Talks by Renee Richel. I look forward to our next chat. Please write in your questions and comments so I can be sure to talk about whatever it is you want to discuss in our next upcoming episode. Lots of Love, God Bless. XOXO.