1. Burn your blueprint.
Rid yourself of whatever fantasies you harbor
about the bliss of coupled life. They’re not
helping. There is no script, so don’t be
disappointed when your fairytale gets hijacked.
2. Forgive.
Didn’t Jesus say something about forgiving
someone not just seven times but seventy
times seven? That would be 490 times….which
should last you through your first 6 months.
Jesus underestimated because, remember, he
wasn’t married.
3. And forget.
If you forgive but don’t forget, did you really
forgive? I know people who claim to have
forgiven but still use every available
opportunity to bring it up. And if you don’t
want to forgive, forgetting works just as well.
4. Be a good teammate.
Life can come at you hard. One of the nice
things about marriage and relationships is
being able to have someone else in the bunker
when you’re getting shelled.
5. Grow.
If you still have the same desires, opinions and
beliefs at age 50 that you did at age 25, that’s
your own damn fault. You will not, and should
not, be the same person you were then.
6. And adapt.
Even if you stagnate, the person you’re in a
relationship with will change. Don’t fight it.
Embrace it, learn from it, be thankful for it.
7. Find your faith.
There is great comfort in believing in
something or someone beyond our crude
human existence. Explore this belief. Take this
journey together.
8. Travel together.
Travel forces couples to rely on one another in
unpredictable ways. It will also broaden your
worldview and the way you value your
relationship.
9. Travel separately.
I want to go to Australia and you want to go to
Maine? Cool. Take lots of pictures. See you in a
week.
10. Develop your own interests.
It seems counter-intuitive, but you will
enhance your relationship when you pursue
your separate interests.
11. Cultivate a wide, diverse circle of
friends.
One of the greatest joys of living is meeting
new people. And many of the people you meet
will likely make you appreciate your mate even
more.
12. Don’t keep score.
I know a couple who keeps track of the
number of times each partner completes a
household chore. Don’t do this. It’s exhausting.
And childish.
13. Exercise.
You owe it to each other to be in the best
physical health possible. The mental side
effects from exercise will also be beneficial.
14. Practice self-awareness.
Take frequent looks in the mirror. Reflect on
who you are and the contributions you are
making to your relationship. Are you being
judgmental? Unfair? Harsh? Hypercritical?
Defensive?
15. Admit that you’re wrong (even,
on occasion, when you aren’t).
This is both the easiest and hardest thing to do
on this list. But this simple gesture will pay
immeasurable dividends; it will help you grow
and it’s just the right thing to do.
16. Celebrate accomplishments big
and small.
Whether it’s a promotion at work or the police
officer let you off with just a warning, find
every occasion possible to toast your good
fortune.
17. Surprise one another.
Fill up her car. Let him sleep alone in the bed
once in a while. Buy some bacon.
18. It’s the good little things.
Holding the door, suggesting a movie night,
paying attention. The reward for these is
greater than the sum of the parts.
19. And it’s the bad little things.
Cracking your knuckles, spitting, clearing your
throat, picking your nose, chewing ice. These
are death by a thousand cuts to your
relationship.
20. Cultivate your finer qualities.
When do you ever have an opportunity to
really work on qualities that make you a better
person? In a strong relationship, you can do it
every single day. Qualities like patience,
loyalty, compassion, trust.
21. The bathroom is private.
If you think it’s quaint to brush your teeth
while I use the toilet, you’ll change your mind
about that eventually. Trust me.
22. Talk about sex (but not just right
before, during, or right after).
Sex is an important part of any relationship.
But for some reason couples don’t want to
discuss it unless they are in the throes of
passion. Don’t make sex a taboo subject.
23. Encourage each other.
We all have insecurities. Your relationship is
one place where you should be completely free
to reveal these and your spouse should help
you overcome them.
24. It’s okay to have secrets.
Even George Bailey slipped Violet Bick a $20
bill every now and then.
25. Avoid subtext.
This is a cowardly way to communicate. If you
have something to say, say it. Don’t hint about
it.
26. Put it down.
The toilet seat. Her cell phone. The beat.
27. Pick it up.
Your dirty sock. Your used tissue. The pace.
28. Don’t over-romanticize past (or
future) relationships.
You weren’t that great and your ex isn’t that
hot.
29. Never use the “s” word.
Don’t call each other “stupid.” That’s just stu….
not wise.
30. Offer solutions, not criticism.
Anyone can criticize. A good teammate (See
Rule 4) will offer a way out.
31. Read.
To escape or to expand. Either way, it helps.
32. You are equals.
It doesn’t matter which one of you makes the
most money. It doesn’t matter which one of
you has the better REO Speedwagon vinyl
collection. It doesn’t matter which one of you
has the best nickname. It doesn’t even matter
which one of you has the coolest food allergy.
33. Compliment each other.
Sincerely and often.
34. Respect each other’s friends.
You know your wife’s loud mouthed, insane
friend Cathy who thinks you have weak
bullshit and can’t believe you married her BFF?
See below.
35. Know when to keep your mouth
shut.
No list would be complete without the “Do
these jeans make my butt look big?” lesson.
36. Indulge each other’s passions.
Scrapbooking doesn’t count.
37. Lose your arbitrary moral code.
This list alone proves that I am the king of the
double standard. When I want to spend money
on a new set of golf clubs, it’s a good
investment. When my wife wants to spend
money on new kitchen countertops, she’s a
profligate. It’s not exactly fair.
38. Respect space and time.
Have we not evolved as a species or watched
enough Dr. Phil to realize our mate does not
want to answer the question “How was your
day?” the minute he/she walks in the door?
39. Take pride in your appearance.
Your marriage license doesn’t give you a free
pass to always wear sweat pants and T-shirts.
40. Maintain good hygiene.
Could your big toenail puncture a snow tire?
Could your breath peel wallpaper? Take care
of that, please. I don’t want to have to tell you
again.
41. Ask before you throw it away.
Don’t touch that broken, ceramic, animated
cactus tequila shot glass holder. I’m serious.
42. Invite his/her family to special
gatherings.
At least once. Thankfully, this may be all you
need.
43. Speaking of family, everyone
gets a holiday card and a birth
announcement.
Even your creepy Uncle Steve and their psycho
cousin Lisa.
44. Don’t be petty.
So I forgot to stop at the store to get your
prescription. Did you have to throw away my
ceramic cactus shot glass holder?
45. Be self-sufficient.
Learn to do your own laundry. Know how to
cook a meal; how to navigate the grocery
store; how to make an online purchase; how to
turn off the water to the house; how to erect a
Nerf basketball hoop; how to unclog a toilet.
46. Everything is fair game for a
joke.
This should be at the heart of everything you
do. I have not found a single thing that I have
been unable to eventually laugh about. If you
know this from the beginning, it makes things
a lot more fun.
47. Have good manners.
Don’t yell. Open the door. Help carry the
groceries. Cover your cough. Hold your gas.
48. Be responsible with money.
No one lives on love. You need money. If you
earned it, you will almost certainly respect it.
If you didn’t earn it, you must respect it even
more.
49. Remember to say thank you.
Even and especially when things don’t seem
like they need to be acknowledged.
50. Adapting beats abandoning.
There will be moments when you want to quit,
walk out, give up. You can do that. But you will
probably be doing so without giving due
consideration to the new life that awaits you.
Will you be better off in six months? 10 years?

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Too long!

all I needed is just one way to be rich and all what u listed nd no relationship will be broken

story story .... story.

What will be will be.

50things? Akiko

Wow .Thanks @ Op