A wise woman once told me what she learnt from her 50 years of...

Every young couple should know these:;:;
1. You Marry a Family, You Marry a History.
You marry the product of their childhood, their parents' relationship, and their ancestral traumas and joys.
See her patterns as a language spoken long before you met.
A relationship is not a found object to be displayed.
It is a garden you must tend daily, without exception.
One day of neglect is manageable; a season is fatal.
Most conflicts are not solved by brilliant solutions.
They are dissolved by profound listening.
Listen to understand her emotional reality, not to formulate your rebuttal.
Establish small, sacred rituals that belong only to the two of you.
A specific way you say goodnight, a Saturday morning tradition, a code word.
Small, consistent acts of kindness are the currency of the relationship.
But like any currency, if issued without backing and without strength, boundaries, and respect, it becomes worthless.
There will be moments of deep hurt.
The wisdom lies in understanding that some grievances should be sealed within the marriage covenant, never released to outsiders.
The healthiest union consists of two whole, individuals standing strong beside each other, not two halves leaning weakly into one another.
You are separate, complete pillars holding up the same roof. Work on your individual integrity relentlessly.
The feeling of "love" is a fleeting emotion.
Lasting love is a series of deliberate, present-tense actions chosen every single day: patience when irritated, kindness when tired, choosing her again and again as you both evolve.