Establish a family culture.

A sign of shared meaning in marriage and family is that your lives are surrounded by things that represent the values and beliefs you share. These things can literally be objects that remind you of your shared meaning.

1. Answer the question: What symbols (such as photos or objects) show who our family is in the world?

2. Family stories are also symbols.
   What are some stories about your family that go way back in history? Share these stories with each other.

3. What does home mean to you?
   What qualities must it have? What was home like for you when you were growing up? Answer these questions and write down what you want your family to look like.

4. What in your life is symbolic of your philosophy of how to lead a meaningful, good life?
   For example, giving to charity, wearing a religious symbol, or a ritual like lighting a candle for dead ancestors. Do you feel that you are failing to demonstrate or display these symbolic things to the degree you’d like?