What Makes a Marriage Work?

This morning I was listening to my sister’s brother-in-law, Mike, on his morning radio show (does that make him my honorary bro in law, since I torture him mercilessly?) at his radio station (check ‘em out they play great music and the morning conversations are amusing), QMFM: http://www.qmfm.com/terryandtara.php?p=terrytara.htm

(sure another shameless plug, but he put my check in the mail, right Mike?)

 

It got me thinking (and that doesn’t happen all the time J). The topic was on marriage and how to make it work, and I am no expert in this area– by any means, but I do have some key things that I think work for Hubby and I, which I thought I would share with you all:

 

1.      Laughter– at yourself and each other. (For all the times I make fun of Hubby, I think it is important to realize that no one is perfect and by being able to laugh at each other, it can only bring you closer)

 

2.      Talk through your problems…or yell through them (Don’t hold stuff inside because you will just end up hurting yourself and each other)

 

3.      Develop rules (AKA the NOT IT rule…..sure, we might laugh about this….but NOT IT keeps the playful spirit alive, The Rules)

 

4.      Remember at the end of the day, no matter how hard or bad it was….that you still have each other ( I know, awwww)

 

5.      Be adventurous and take risks (what have you got to lose?)

 

6.      Be real with each other (one thing I can always depend on Hubby for is his ability to tell it like it is)

 

7.      Remember that marriage is work (it doesn’t take luck to make it work, but real hard work…you have to be involved and willing to try, but that is what makes it more fulfilling)!

 

8.      Don’t try and change each other (Hubby will never change me, no matter how much he tries to get me to cook or clean—but, I think that is part of my charm—and even though I complain about him, I wouldn’t change a thing!)

 

9.      It is no longer about me only, but us (yea, I am still working on this one….but Hubby reminds me that things are “ours”)

 

10.  Be patient (also not a strongpoint for me, but hey I couldn’t have gotten where I am today without him!)

 

Well, these are my own tidbits I have learned, and while I am by no means perfect (I like to think I am), I do realize when I have a good thing…..and I couldn’t live without Hubby! I need him, and I think he needs me to make him laugh at himself and realize life couldn’t be better with anyone else…good times and bad, right Hubby?