A couple sits in a marriage counselor’s office, looking utterly miserable.
“We just can’t agree on anything anymore,” the wife sighs. “He wants to watch sports, I want to watch documentaries. He wants Italian for dinner, I want Mexican. It’s constant conflict!”
The husband nods glumly. “And don’t even get me started on the thermostat! She likes it like a sauna, I prefer an igloo!”
The counselor, a calm and experienced woman, listens patiently. After a long silence, she leans forward.
“I understand your frustrations,” she says gently. “But I believe I have found the root of your problems.”
The couple looks at her, hopeful. “What is it, Doctor?” they ask in unison.
The counselor smiles faintly. “It’s not about the sports or the documentaries, the Italian or the Mexican food, or even the thermostat.”
The couple leans in, eager for her profound insight.
“The real problem,” the counselor reveals, “is that you both keep bringing your own chairs to the session. You’re supposed to sit on the couch together!”