Valentine’s day is over and now the stinkin’ thinkin’ can return. Has your spouse called you a skunk? Do you think your lovey dovey has turned into a skunk? Well, it doesn’t have to be so bad. You can turn your skunk day into a happy skunk day.

Now, how many marriages have one or both of the spouses who is a skunk. What if you have two good people who actually love each other BUT who have problems. Once they are truly committed, they find out they have some differences or that they have to learn how to get along.

Here is a little story about two typical skunks:

• Once upon a time there were two lovable skunks who fell in love and got married. They had so much in common and were the best of friends. However, once they got married, they faced some new challenges.

• Mrs. Skunk tried to nicely ask Mr. Skunk to pull out the skunk weeds so that they didn’t go over into the Mr. Badger’s yard. This was very urgent, because skunk weeds grow and spread one foot per day. And, they were getting very close to Mr. Badger’s boundary. She’d already tried, but they were too tough.

• But, Mr. Skunk had a busy day. He had to read his Pigs Like Food book and visit his new friend, Mr. Panda Bear. So, Mrs. Skunk started some fuming animosity and finally said something. Then, Mr. Skunk said, “You stink like a skunk. That 5:1 went right over your head. I’d rather live alone than live with someone complaining all the time.” (5:1 means five positives to one negative – something they learned in their skunks-can-learn-how-to-get-along marriage class)

• Then, Mrs. Skunk said, “Well, if I’m a skunk then what are you? Because if you call someone a name then you must be something too. And, what about all the negative things you do.” Mr. Skunk was surprised. “What negative things?!”

• Mrs. Skunk said, “Lots of negative things that I’m just supposed to deal with somehow; like you going off to Skunk School. Now, we don’t have any lovey-dovey time anymore. Because, you are giving all your time and attention to school. This is not healthy for our hearts or our struggling relationship. And, I  didn’t even have a choice in your decision, you just took off to follow your own scent.”

• They went off into separate holes in the old tree they lived in. Mrs. Skunk was praying that Mr. Skunk’s heart would soften and that the “D” word wouldn’t happen.  She thought about her animosity and how she somehow needed to learn how to speak more positively.

• Then, Mr. Skunk pushed the branches out of the way to her nook  and said he was sorry and would work on the skunk weeds and that he wasn’t planning on going to the next Skunk School session.

• Mrs. Skunk thought about doing something nice for her honey. Skunk Day was coming up. Maybe she could make him a “Happy Skunk Day” card and give him a little treat to go with it….. And, they lived happily ever after.  (hee, hee)

I declare a Happy Skunk Day for every March 25 or whenever you need one. Skunks are black with white stripes. They are really cute, don’t you think? What should those white stripes remind you of; looking for the silver lining, turning lemons into lemonade, focusing on the good, learning and growing together, to keep trying,  speaking kindly, doing good, and putting your skunk love or love skunk first? It’s not only important for your relationship, but it’s also important for your heart health.