Scout Collins’s Reviews > The Seven Levels of Intimacy: The Art of Loving and the Joy of Being Loved > Status Update

64: "Let discipline guide you as a couple in your approach to food, exercise, sleep, finances, the ways you explore and share your spirituality..."
Discipline is indispensable in the lives of successful people. Why would relationships be any different?
"Is your primary relationship thriving or just surviving?
How much is discipline a part of that relationship?
Do you want a successful relationship - what makes one?"

63-- "if we truly loved another person, we would never do or encourage anything that would prevent that person from becoming the best-version-of-themselves."

62: DISCIPLINE
"The problem is we don't want discipline. We want someone to tell us we can be happy without discipline. But we can't. In fact, if you want to measure the level of happiness in your life, measure the level of discipline in your life."

63: "If you want to measure the effectiveness of your relationship, measure the discipline in it."

62: "Is freedom, then, the core of the experience we call human life? No. Love is the essence of life. Love is the one task worthy of life. We busy ourselves with so many things, while the one great task we set aside, ignore, neglect. Love is your task--to love yourself by striving to become the best-version-of-yourself, to love others by encouraging and assisting them on their quest to become their best selves."

"When are we most fully alive? When we embrace a life of discipline. The human person thrives on discipline.
Discipline is the key to freedom.. all great men and women know the value of delayed gratification." (61)

Discipline
"Discipline is a gift we give ourselves. Relationships thrive with discipline. Discipline is the price life demands for happiness. You cannot be happy for any sustained period of time without discipline. Discipline is the road that leads to the fullness of life." (60)

"'How long have you been away?' Peter asked.
The stranger smiled and said, 'Two whole days.'
Peter was stunned. He had guessed, from the intensity of their greeting, that the man had been gone weeks, if not months.
Peter said, 'I hope my marriage is that passionate after 12 years!'
The man said, 'Don't just hope, friend, decide!'" (269)

and covered in smiles, they reminded Peter of newlyweds, though he knew from the children they couldn't be.'" (268)

267-269: Airport Story
After lovingly greeting his kids:
"'I've saved best for last,' and proceeded to kiss and embrace his wife. After a long moment, they drew back to look at each other. He stared into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed, 'I love you so much.' As they stood, staring into each other's eyes, holding hands with both hands