It is hard for me to believe that it has been 30 years! It feels a bit old to think and say that I have been married for this long… It is an accomplishment worth celebrating!
Marriage is not easy. It requires work and dedication. It has ups and it has downs.
In our case, we are both strong, opinionated people and have had our good share of disagreements. We have our differences and we have a lot in common. We have our history together and a deep shared love.
Relationships are different. I attribute our success to:
Care and support. We have supported each other through the ups and all the challenges life threw our way, and there were plenty.
We have shared values. Our core beliefs and values about relationships, family, life, the world, are similar. We both want the same things out of life .
Equality and mutual respect. We are equals in the relationship. We treat each other with respect and we challenge each other.
We have fun together. Doing simple things, watching a movie, hiking with the dogs, spending time with friends and exploring and traveling.
We both have an adventurous spirit, with each at times initiating and exciting the other to embrace life. Just in the last few years, we climbed Kilimanjaro together and we traveled around the US in an RV for 3 months.
We compromise. On big and small stuff. Just now, to celebrate our wedding anniversary we went to northern Norway and Portugal. I wanted to see the Aurora Borealis, he wanted sun. So we did both.
Focusing on the positive. We always have a choice. We can dwell on the negative, and the downs or we can embrace the positives. We work to each of our strengths, and accept what we may consider each other’s weaknesses. Even when they sometimes drive us crazy…
After 30+ years together we appreciate what we have. Each other. The 2 kids we have raised together. The life we built. The love for one another.
What have been the secrets to your successful relationships?
In the photo it is us dogsledding in Norway.