How to Make a Marriage Work After Many Years
- 1). Speak frequently with your spouse and seek to have meaningful conversations. Listen at least as frequently as you speak, and seek to honestly understand your spouse's point of view. Indicate by your attentiveness that even after many years of marriage, you still care about your spouse's opinions and still enjoy his company.
- 2). Surprise your spouse with a romantic gesture. Bring flowers, chocolates or a new set of tools -- anything that pleases your spouse and says romance to her.
- 3). Forgive your spouse for any grudge you may harbor, and ask him to do the same. Speak about the problem honestly and listen openly to your spouse's complaints. Cease any behavior that causes your spouse to harbor a grudge; after many years, minor irritants can grow to become major irritants.
- 4). Compliment your spouse regularly. Share those things she does that please you or that you find admirable, and don't let the passage of years dull your appreciation for your spouse.
- 5). Express commitment to your spouse and tell him that after many years together, you are pleased that you chose him to be your partner.
- 6). Vacation with your spouse and take time to enjoy the experience together. Focus more on your partner than on the destination.
- 7). Set up a regular date night with your spouse and make keeping the date a priority. Find a babysitter if you have children so that you can spend time focusing on one another -- long time mates sometimes forget to focus on one another because they are busy with other responsibilities.
- 8). Find a therapist and follow his or her recommendations, if necessary, to preserve a troubled marriage.
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