Today’s post is dedicated to those who are married and who want to stay married for as long as possible.
Any long time couple you know will agree that marriage takes work and that showing respect and kindness are key to a successful union.
- Never underestimate the value of asking your partner how his or her day went.
Niceties don’t become any less nice just because they become routine. Show you care and if you do then your partner will and it’s important to share small details on each other’s day to day routine otherwise you’ll end up having nothing to say to eachother.
- Some fights are just fights.
You can be madly in love with a person and still be mad at that person. Fights don’t have to spell The End. Couples that stay together choose the good days over the bad days.
- Accept that relationships come with obligations.
You might not want to do everything your partner wants you to do with him or her – work events, watching sports he or she likes – but you also know it makes them happy to have you by their side, which makes doing those things totally worth it. (Eg. going to a Liverpool match)
- Little surprise purchases go a long way.
Does your partner salted caramel ice cream? Picking some up while you’re out and about shopping for milk and bread shows you were thinking of him or her.
- Kiss hello before doing anything else when you get home. Kiss good-bye when you leave.
It’s always just the sweetest if he or she has to go to work extra early but stops by to kiss you quickly while trying not to wake you. Or when he or she walks you to the door when you head out. And an immediate kiss when you reunite at the end of the day means you care about each other above all else.
- Sometimes you have to say no to invitations so you can spend time with each other.
Just because your diary is blank one night doesn’t mean you have to agree to plans if someone asks. Life is busy. It’s nice to use that free time to just be together.
- Treat his family like yours.
They love to know you think of them as family. And your partner will love to see you treat them like your own.
- More “I love yous” are better than fewer.
Three words that just never get old. You’re seriously not going to say it too much.
- Be sympathetic when your partner has the flu.
Maybe it means cancelling dinner plans and making soup. Maybe it means running to the nearest pharmacy for a prescription. Don’t complain. No one gets sick on purpose, and if the situation were reversed, you know he would take care of you.
- Don’t make jokes at each other’s expense.
Be respectful and think about what he or she would want you to share with a group. They’re your partner, not your punch line.
- Be on time.
So many meaningless fights can be avoided by being on time. (This is the story of my life and my arguments.) Start getting ready 20 minutes earlier than you think you need to. (I always try but it never seems to work and it is a big problem.)
- If someone talks badly about your significant other, defend him.
Even if you’re generally too polite to correct people or call them out on rudeness, sometimes you have to make an exception. After all, you’re supposed to be each other’s biggest supporters.
- Keep each other informed of your individual plans.
You’re going to stop by and say hello to a friend on Saturday? Great, have fun. But let him or her know where you’re going to be so (1) they don’t worry and (2) they know you won’t be around if he wants to make his own plans. It’s not a matter of asking permission – it’s a matter of being polite and thoughtful because you always want to be at ease knowing your partner is alive and well and not in trouble.
- Avoid fighting when travelling
The nice hotel you booked turned out to be not so nice at all. Or he or she forgot to pack your certain something like they said they would. You can get cranky be in a mood and ruin your holiday or just grin and bear it and tell it as a good story or inside joke in the future. (I’ve experienced it all.)
- Be spontaneous.
Make a dinner reservation for just the two of you at the last minute, or just wander into your favorite restaurant and eat at the bar. Surprise him with football tickets (in my case to Anfield). Keeping things unexpected makes being with the person you love even more fun.
- Love each other unconditionally.
Sometimes it really is just that simple.
