A lot has been said about weddings and marriages over the years — everything from cultural values to traditions to parental advice — and it seems that each new generation brings with it a new set of Love Rules for wedded bliss. My mom has even offered her tips over the years, and I love sitting down with her and hearing her tell the stories from her own special day and her life with my father.
I recently discovered Quora, a fun crowd-sourcing site full of all sorts of questions, and someone once asked this question: What is the best marriage advice you would give? The answers were surprisingly varied and insightful, and I found myself getting lost as I scrolled and scrolled through all the responses. Because we can all use a little guidance when it comes to love, whether we’re married or not, I thought I’d share a round-up of my favorite gems. Read on and be inspired…
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“Love isn’t enough. Marry the person who brings out your best and will stand beside you at your worst.”
“I’m very excited to see my friends and family, throw this fantastic party, be a bride (my dress is amazing), but I’m most excited to marry the man I love. I’m looking most forward to our life together and growing old together, not the wedding.”
“Don’t talk, listen. It’s so frustrating when you’re talking and you know the other person is just planning his retort in his head. How can you respond if you don’t listen?”
“It is not your responsibility to change anyone but yourself. Learn to deal with this behavior or get over it. Or don’t get married. Or get divorced.”
“Be your own person. Keep your own hobbies, interests and friends. Your partner should support and encourage this, if he doesn’t, you’ll soon be resentful, angry and unhappy. This goes both ways. Let him go to his friend Pookie’s man cave to watch the game. Use the time to do something you want to do. He should reciprocate so you have time to kick Jill’s butt at tennis or read the latest issue of Wonder Woman at a Starbucks like a grownup.”
“Being married means accepting all of someone, their flaws and ugliness, not just the good parts.”
“I love my fiancé and he loves me, but I don’t want him to show me how much ear wax he just cleaned out and I won’t show him how I can pop a zit with one hand.”
What awesome advice! What would you add to the list, friends? What’s your favorite piece of love advice? If you could bestow one pearl of wisdom to the next generation, what would it be? I’d love to hear! xoxo
[Photo via We Heart It]
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Sharon Blake says
Wait for someone to whom you are the whole world. Don't ever settle!
Suburban prep says
Enjoy doing the mundane things together– grocery shopping,doing the dishes etc. It is the little things.
Ashton Wright says
Find someone you can be quiet with.
Listen to them chew. It sounds silly but if it bothers you now, it will grow into an issue later on down the road.
Remember that every relationship is a partnership. If you can't work together on something simple, chances are you won't be able to on the big things either.