Coming back to Dialogue
Time and time again

It’s not because they have lots of problems. On the contrary, the monthly sessions have become a way of recommitting themselves to the ongoing work of enhancing their relationship. “We always come away feeling closer,” says Patrick.

These 90-minute Zoom gatherings give couples an opportunity to dialogue for anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how many couples are participating. The other couples lovingly witness each dialogue. Although doing a witnessed dialogue during a Drop-In session is optional, Patrick says they almost always choose to dialogue.

“We usually have a topic in mind, but we are open to whatever may come up for us. We sometimes change the topic because of our response to what someone else’s topic has been.”

For Maryanne and Patrick, part of the joy of showing up for Drop-In Dialogue is seeing how all of the participating couples—regardless of class, ethnicity, age, family configurations, or the issues they are facing—seem to benefit from the experience.

“We see the centering, the love, the compassion, and the changes that happen when people practice couple enrichment,” Maryanne says. “We can see the growth in a session and over time. And we benefit from seeing how other couples are dealing with various trends and issues that all of us are facing.”

Having experienced the joy of these short, monthly opportunities to participate in witnessed dialogue online, usually facilitated by FCE Leader Couple Kirsten Brink and Andrew Dembski, Patrick and Maryanne took the opportunity to dive back into a more extended experience when they signed up for the online FCE workshop sponsored by Friends General Conference Gathering in February 2025, led by FCE Leader Couple Mike and Marsha Green. Over five days Patrick and Maryanne delved ever more deeply into how their lives were changing as they aged and how those changes were affecting their relationship.

The experience was so meaningful that, at the end of the workshop, they stood together in front of the Zoom camera and reaffirmed their marriage vows from 36 years ago.

And then they registered for more Drop-In Dialogue dates.

“Our feelings for each other and our relationship are enhanced by dialogue,” says Patrick. “Our commitment to each other continues to deepen and unfold in amazing ways.”