The secret to a happy marriage

Twenty years married, 24 together, so what is my secret for keeping things hot and staying in love?
First, don’t let yourself go into the marriage black hole. You know what that is. That is the negative dark side so many people participate in. They talk bad about marriage. They insult their spouse. They let themselves go. They become the blobs of the marriage world. Overweight, lazy, miserable, and how do they end up like this? How do you go from the lust and excitement of dating to the misery of an unhappy marriage? Is it the day to day mundane routine that puts people in a slump? Is it the kids that put a wedge between the sheets? Is it the in-law drama that causes tension? Is it financial stress that causes so much resentment? Yes, to all of the above. It is easy to let all of the problems of life come between your marriage. It is easy to let the hardship of every day living break your passion. But what if you decided today that you weren’t going to live that way. What if you decided when you first got married that you wouldn’t allow life to bring your relationship to its knees. This is easy to do. I have told all of my gals this for years. And for all of my happy housewives who want to have a happy home all the power is with you. Men are easy. And they will follow your lead. So, putting in an effort to keep the spark alive will go a long way. So book date night once a week no matter what. Even if you go for a walk, or bring a bottle of wine to your patio and look at the stars together, put the kids to bed and spend some time together. Show adoration and appreciation for each other every day. Compliments and courtesy are must be remembered to keep your courtship strong in your marriage. So many couples go to the deepest places to hurt their partners, but why? Make a pact not to say the worst things to each other. Make the effort to hold your tongue. Of course you will argue, just don’t cross that line. You know what it is. Remember why you fell in love to begin with. Let each other grow and support each other’s needs. We marry young and our lives and interests change. Encourage each other to be the best we can be. And don’t lose sight of the goal which is to have a strong marriage for your children. The best gift you can give your children is an example of love. And yes, it is hard. It is not all roses. But that is life.