My wife and I recently celebrated 30 years together. By no means do I think we have everything figured out, but we’ve learned a lot from all those years. Here is some of what we, and other couples, have to say about how to make it this far.
1. Give with both hands – hold nothing back.
2. No matter what, don’t go to bed without sharing some sign of your affection for each other.
3. It’s not always going to be 50/50 between you. Give without counting.
4. Never forget to touch, to kiss, to hold, and caress.
5. Don’t just talk for the sake of talking. Have meaningful conversations.
6. There are things that you just don’t want to talk about sometimes – things that really hurt. But have those conversations because they’re the only way to fix the things that could ruin you.
7. Don’t air your dirty laundry. Telling other people your problems only makes other people take sides.
8. “I LOVE YOU” – Say it once a day. You never know when it will be your last chance.
9. Always be honored to be in each other’s presence. Each day you each make a choice to be together.
10. Disagree with respect.
11. Don’t pass wind with the windows closed.
12. Don’t let trends change your lifetime plan
13. Marry your best friend.
14. Never stop trying to impress each other.
15. Treat your spouse like they are above anyone or anything else in your life, because they are.
16. Marriage isn’t meant to make “me” happy, it’s meant to make “us” happy.
17. Be yourself. Nurture yourself. That’s how you bring something unique to the marriage.
18. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.
19. Don’t just be there for the hard times, be there for the fun, be there for all of it.
20. You’re going to mess up more than you get it right – it’s okay.
21. Like your spouse’s family.
22. If you’re upset, say so. It’s never good to bottle things up, especially around the person with whom you are meant to feel most safe.
23. Don’t be afraid to spend some time apart. It really does help you think about what you miss. And reunions are great!
24. You’ve got to learn to work as a team. You each have your own strengths and weaknesses so working together just makes you both more successful.
25. It’s the little things that mean the most. Grand gestures have their place, but knowing how your partner likes their coffee trumps them every time.
Good luck, and may you have more love than you know what to do with.
