What a wonderful afternoon celebrating the latest book by Arlener Steels Poydras, From Wife-Ish to Wife: Lessons in Love, Life, and Longevity.The book signing and conversation were everything you hope for—honest, funny, thoughtful, and relatable. I had the opportunity to interview Arlener and her husband, and they were refreshingly candid about love, marriage, life, and the lessons they have learned along the way.
Arlener’s book takes an honest look at marriage and what it means to grow from simply being “wife-ish” into becoming a true partner. Drawing from her own marriage, she explores the realities that couples face, including communication, money, jealousy, insecurity, conflict, faith, and the everyday challenges that can divide a couple or help them grow closer.
Hearing both sides made the afternoon special. Their honesty, humor, and openness made the conversation feel like we were simply sitting around the table with good friends.
They didn’t pretend to have all the answers. Instead, they talked about what they’ve learned, what they’ve gotten wrong, what they’ve had to work through, and what has helped them remain committed to one another.
The audience got in on the conversation, too, asking questions and sharing their own thoughts and experiences. And that’s what made the afternoon so special. We quickly discovered that while every relationship is different, many of the questions, struggles, misunderstandings—and yes, even the funny moments—are universal.
The afternoon was a reminder that relationships don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. There is plenty to learn, plenty to laugh about, and plenty of room to grow.
Perhaps that’s one of the biggest takeaways from From Wife-Ish to Wife: marriage is not about arriving at some perfect place. It’s about continuing to choose each other, learning from the journey, and growing together along the way.
If you missed the book signing, you can still pick up a copy of From Wife-Ish to Wife: Lessons in Love, Life, and Longevity, along with Arlener’s other books, on Amazon.
All photos are courtesy of Bobby Brown Photography who is located in the DFW area.
Remember, “thisisyourbestyear,” and marriage is a journey with detours.
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