“Look!” my husband whispered. “There’s a deer over there.”

We were on our favourite kind of date – a hike in the large expanse of protected forest that spans Ancaster and Dundas.

The sun was setting, and the deer blended flawlessly with the golden-orange patches of sunlight that were scattered across the forest floor. We stood perfectly still, our eyes on the deer and his eyes on us. After a few moments, he bounded away and we continued walking.

We didn’t talk about anything important. Not the children or our finances or the list of chores waiting at home. As we strolled hand-in-hand, we talked mostly about the beauty of the woods and the happy memories we shared. And we paused every now and then to steal a kiss.

It’s so important to prioritize time with your spouse. To deliberately push aside the friction that can arise as two humans struggle to live as one, the busyness of raising children, and the stress of day-to-day life. To take some time to focus on each other.

To remember why you fell in love with this person with whom you’ve committed to spend your life.

This is why, after almost five years of marriage, my husband and I have decided to start dating again. We never should have let it slip; it truly makes all the difference in the world. Regularly, we set aside time for each other. Nothing elaborate. Snacks and a movie after the kids are in bed. Hot chocolate and a game of scrabble. A video game. A shopping trip. A bike ride.

Or a few beautiful hours where it’s just us, the golden-orange sunlight, and stolen kisses in the woods.