96: Thoughts on Loving Well with Dan Purcell

In this episode, Dan shares lessons learned about what it means to love someone well. He discusses reflections about courage and creating an intimate marriage where there’s room for two people to thrive. He shares other thoughts from his mother, who passed away from cancer a few weeks ago. 

What We Cover in This Episode

This is a more personal episode than usual. I set aside my plans and instead shared some reflections on what it really means to love another person well—told through the story of my parents, and of my mom, who recently passed away after a sixteen-month journey with melanoma.

My mom was adventurous and warm: she left Australia at seventeen, learned to speak Japanese fluently, raised our family between two countries, and built a business side by side with my dad for eighteen years. Watching how devotedly my dad cared for her through her illness taught me as much about love as anything I know.

Through these memories, I reflect on courage, devotion, working as a team, and creating a marriage with enough room for two whole people to thrive. It’s a tribute, and also an invitation to think about how each of us can love our spouse a little better.

Key takeaways

• Loving well often looks like devotion in the ordinary and the hard moments.
• Shared adventure and working side by side can knit a couple together for life.
• A strong marriage leaves room for two whole people to grow and thrive.
• The way we care for each other in sickness reveals the depth of our love.
• It’s worth pausing to ask: how can I love my spouse a little better today?

If this stirs something in you, lean into it. Explore how to deepen your emotional intimacy and connection, and learn how to build a marriage with room for two secure, thriving people.

If you’d love support loving your spouse more fully, our Next Level program is here for you.