Always choose to be kind.
Dad said, Be kind even if youre not feeling it.
Maybeespeciallyif youre not feeling it.
Emma Bauso
Find little ways to bond.
My grandfather told me, Never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink.
Stay focused on resolution when conflict arises.
Focus on tackling the problem, not each other.
Dont try and change your partner.
As Rita Rudner said about changing your SO, That pies baked.
If you want a different flavor, get a different pie.
Dont have too high of expectations.
It is positively life changing to be married, and an amazing experience, but still life goes on.
Marry him for who he is.
Know what you want (and go for it).
Grandma said, Love is like coffee.
Sometimes its hot, sometimes its cold, sometimes its sweet, sometimes its bitter.
No matter how you like it, it is good.
But its only great when you get it the way you like it.
confirm you get what you want.
Say thank you often.
Audibly hearing thank you reinforces the feeling of being appreciated.
The annoying quirks are the good stuff.
Act like every time youre with them is the last time.
Always act like its the last time youll see them.
Cause it might be.
My mother passed last year at 45 from her second bout with cancer.
To tell her he loved her.
You never know when youll never see them again.
You marry their family, too.
You dont just marry her, you marry her whole damn family.
Take space for yourself.
This is one I developed myself about 10 years ago.
Dont forget to breathe.
Your relationship was founded on your individuality.
There is a reason most employers provide vacation.
Time to get away from the grindstone, reset, recharge, and breathe.
Same thing for your relationships.
When you are together, you are a couple.
When you are with the kids, you are parents.
At work, you are working.
There is a reason things like guys/girls night, man caves, and craft rooms exist.
To take time apart, build individually, and appreciate your time together more.
This is true of all relationships, romantic, parental, vocational, and personal.
If youre not breathing, youre not doing much.
Looks fade, marry someone who you enjoy talking to.
-grandma
I also feel strongly about this one.
Find someone who is ok with you both having separate hobbies.
My wife does her thing and I have my hobby.
We share some hobbies, but we are ok with spending time apart too.
We dont have to always do them together.
She needs to have her own life and I love not forcing her into the nerdy stuff I enjoy.
Get the right size bedding.
Get blankets that are bigger than your bed size.
Get King sized comforter.
No more fighting for cover while sleeping.
Sex isnt the only way to be intimate.
Intimacy isnt about sex.
