If you are like millions of other married people, you want a strong, happy, healthy marriage, don't you? One of the greatest gifts in life is a happy marriage to the love of your life.
No relationship is perfect, though, and problems will arise once in a while; some small and some major...
too major for the marriage to survive? Not if the issue is dealt with.
Too many people give up on their marriages and divorce too soon, and a great many more marriages ultimately become tainted by unresolved issues that could have easily been remedied as they came up.
There are steps you can take to save your marriage right now.
Here are five: Step One: Learn the Difference Between a Mountain and a Molehill.
Learn which issues to raise a stink over and which ones are not even "issues".
If a raised toilet seat, or dishes in the sink are major issues for you, it may be time to re-evaluate your priorities.
Being married to someone requires compromise and acceptance; remember that you said "I do" for better or for worse.
You have personality quirks and habits also.
Think any of those might pester your spouse? Save your energy for more important issues that may be overshadowed by the petty nuances of everyday life with somebody else.
Step Two: Stop and Smell the Roses.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
The same is true in marriage.
Quality time is crucial to a healthy relationship.
If you don't have time, make it.
You don't have to go on some fancy retreat in Barbados, either.
Quality time can be laying on the couch watching television, going to the drive-ins, having a picnic, and so on.
Step Three: Talk, Talk, Talk.
When you get married, you don't receive an owner's manual along with the marriage certificate.
Communication is an essential part of any relationship, not just marriage.
Talk about anything, just so both of you are on the same page.
Remember, It's supposed to be you two against the world, and sometimes that is forgotten in light of who forgot to take the garbage out...
or if his leaving the toilet seat in an undesirable position is unbearable, TALK ABOUT IT.
You'd be surprised at the results.
Step Four: Women are From Venus, Men are From? It is important to have an understanding of the physiological differences between men and women.
They are more than just reproductive differences.
Our hormones are completely different, our sets of health concerns are different, and our brains even work differently.
As a rule, men think and act a certain way,and women have their ways.
This must not be confused with the notion of superiority of one gender over the other.
Just be aware of the fact that men and women have unique, innate differences.
These differences can be complementary, and amusing, or competitive and resentful, it's up to you.
Step Five: You Married Them For a Reason, Didn't You? On your wedding day, your spouse possessed characteristics that attracted you to them, did they not? What were they? Write them down.
Have your significant other do the same.
Compare notes.
What has changed? This can be a difficult step because, well, not everyone is fond of seeing their shortcomings in list form.
It will, however get some things on the table that can then be worked through.
They don't call it the Institution of Marriage for nothing.
Being married is sometimes one of the toughest jobs you will ever have.
It takes patience, honesty, commitment, trust and plain old hard work.
Hey, if it isn't worth it, why did you spend $10,000 on the wedding? Ready to save your marriage?