8 Lessons Learned in 8 Years as a Married Couple
Marriage isn't easy.
That's why every year we spend being lawfully married to each other is a blessing worth celebrating.
As we anticipate our 8th year as a married couple on the 14th of May, we reflect on what we've learned to do and not do in our marriage.
The art of understanding is more important than one's ability to articulate.
Your friendship with your marriage partner will get you through the journey.
Idle hands lead to arguments. Purpose leads you closer together.
Life gets harder, but you should cope better.
If you think marriage gets easier in time, think again.
The challenges we face as a married couple haven't diminished over time. They often get harder.
However, facing these trials together has strengthened our resilience as a married couple.
With time, we've become better at weathering storms.
What else has allowed us to cope better through the years? Continue reading about our story here.
You can never really prepare for the next season.
The idea that failing to prepare leads to failure is commonly accepted, but it's not the whole truth.
While planning is important, it's also crucial to be present in the current moment and support each other emotionally.
Overplanning can make us miss out on the joys of today.
Adaptability can help us handle unexpected challenges better and strengthen how we relate to each other as a married couple.
How can we strike a balance between preparing for the future and savouring the present? Continue reading about our story here.
We all make mistakes. Have grace for each other.
In marriage, expecting perfection from our partner can lead to unnecessary resentment.
Learning to forgive quickly and move past small disagreements improves our relationship.
For a married couple like us, forgiveness is essential in maintaining trust and harmony in our marriage.
How do we decide when to forgive and forget, and which battles are worth fighting? Continue reading about our story here.
The art of understanding is more important than one's ability to articulate.
In the beginning of our relationship, we focused too much on proving our points.
But we realized it didn't help us truly understand each other.
Instead of insisting on being heard and understood, we now prioritise empathising with each other's feelings.
Effective communication is all about listening actively and seeing things from each other's perspectives, cultivating a deeper connection.
Learn more about how we try to foster healthy communication as a married couple by reading about our story here.
Sex gets better over time.
Is a married couple's sex life really destined to fizzle out over time?
Recent surveys suggest that many couples experience a decline in sexual activity as the years go by. There's also a belief in society that the same goes for sexual desire.
However, our personal experience tells a different story. Despite societal expectations, we've found that our intimacy has only deepened with time.
Research even shows that regular sexual activity can boost our immune system!
But fostering a fulfilling sex life takes effort.
It's about being open, patient, and willing to learn and grow together.
What does sexual intimacy truly mean for a married person? Continue reading about our story here.
Maturity is acknowledging that you are part of the problem.
As a married man or woman, do you often find yourself blaming or criticising your spouse?
It's easy for us to focus on our partner's mistakes or shortcomings, but have we ever thought that our actions actually have something to do with those flaws?
Improving as a partner in a lasting marriage involves self-reflection.
By examining our thoughts and actions, we gain awareness of our role in how our partners behave and react, and the entire relationship dynamics.
Learn more about how we try to become better partners to each other by reading about our story here.
Your friendship with your marriage partner will get you through the journey.
Experts have always emphasised the importance of friendship in marriages.
In our eight years as a married couple, we've learned that friendship is crucial for a strong matrimony. That, along with putting Christ at the centre of our marriage, creates a sturdy bedrock for our relationship.
Learn more about what it truly means for us to be each other's best friends, united in God's love by reading about our story here.
Idle hands lead to arguments. Purpose leads you closer together.
Having a purpose in our marriage is essential to keeping it strong.
When we're not busy or we don't have something to focus on together, we tend to start picking at each other's faults and arguing more.
For us, having a common goal is like a compass, guiding us through tough times.
It draws us closer together and gives us more fulfilment as a married couple.
What does it mean to lead a purpose-driven life for a married couple like us? Continue reading about our story here.
The Bottomline
Marriage, a journey of challenges and growth, teaches us invaluable lessons.
In our eight years as husband and wife, we've discovered the importance of resilience, forgiveness, understanding, and purpose.
The path isn't always linear and easy, but our friendship, open communication, and commitment to each other guide us through, strengthening our bond with each passing year.
What lessons have you learned after years of being with your partner? We'd love to read your stories in the comment section below!
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