Another great article I read on yahoo on how to keep your marriage alive throughout the years! I share this here so my readers who missed reading it on yahoo are able to read it.
1. A strong marriage is built of tiny actions.
“It’s the little things.” Such a cliche! Such bad sentence construction! And such truth.
Related: 35 for 35 — Things I have learned in my 35 years
Each time you discuss instead of demand, you strengthen your marriage. Same goes for speaking with respect instead of sarcasm, and listening instead of dismissing, and engaging instead of eye-rolling.
Each action is like a brick. You choose whether to use it to build a foundation or a wall.
2. But don’t forget the grand gesture.
Buying flowers or surprising your spouse with a vacation, an iPad, or a day off from dishwashing won’t make your marriage. But it will cause your partner to snap out of the day-to-day routine and take notice. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get the ball rolling in a very pleasant direction.
3. Never underestimate the importance of a good laugh.
Sometimes life as a grownup can be hard, boring, and downright drudgery. Another cliche fits here: “If I didn’t laugh, I’d probably cry.” So laugh. A lot.
Related: Marriage advice for new parents — 7 ways to baby-proof your relationship
What do you both find funny? Comedies? Jon Stewart? Silly t-shirts? Private jokes? Sneezing pandas? Write a “funny” list, then commit yourself to experiencing at least one of these things together every day. You’ll thank me.
4. All good marriages have a supporting cast.
There’s an odd fallacy about marriage (middle-class, American marriage, perhaps) that it should somehow stand on its own. If two people love each other, have shared values, a little chemistry, a decent job, maybe a kid or two…that they should be able to figure it out. That a good marriage can withstand life’s slings and arrows, if not unscathed, then at least intact.
Guess what? Life’s a lot bigger than two people. Sooner or later, a sneaker wave will knock you down, and you’ll need a hand to find your balance again. Perhaps it will be something small, like a messy house or a bad habit. Or something big: job loss, a health crisis. It may be something good: starting a new business, or winning the lottery. Or something bad: a death in the family, or an affair.
Whatever it is, there are people who can help.
Everyone’s supporting cast looks different. Some include a housecleaner or a babysitter. Others include a marriage counselor or a psychiatrist. Some need a financial advisor. Some just need their extended family or their friends. But everyone needs someone.
Related: 9 tips to spice up your marriage
5. Treat your spouse as you hope your children will treat theirs.
Little eyes are watching. Little ears are listening. And little minds and hearts are learning about partnership and marriage from your example.
I say this not to promote guilt, paranoia or dishonesty. The worst thing we could do is to project a facade of shiny perfection to our kids. They’re smarter than that, and such playacting hurts and confuses them.
But it’s worth remembering that kids really do follow our lead, and we owe it to them to be mindful about what we’re teaching. And we owe it to ourselves to dig deep for the good stuff. We’re worth it.
I’d love to hear your pithy marriage wisdom. What have you learned so far?
- By Asha Dornfest
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