Wife made me go to couples therapy last week
Nice office
Two couches
Box of tissues
The therapist asked what brings us in
My wife said "he treats everything like a transaction"
I said "that's not true"
The therapist asked me to give an example of something I do that isn't transactional
I thought about it for 11 seconds
I could not think of an example
The therapist asked how that made me feel
I said "efficient"
My wife looked at the therapist
The therapist looked at my wife
They had a moment
I was not part of the moment
My wife said "do you love me?"
I said "I chose you. Every day I choose you. That's not emotion. That's a commitment with a compounding return and I don't see a better alternative in the market."
The room went quiet
My wife cried
The therapist cried
I didn't understand why
That was the most romantic thing I've ever said
The therapist said "I think we should meet weekly"
I said "what's your hourly rate?"
She said "$275"
I said "for both of us or each?"
My wife picked up her purse and walked out
I stayed to negotiate the rate
Got it down to $250
Small win