The longer you’re in a relationship, the easier it can be to just go through the motions. A “going through the motions” marriage is not something I want to be in, but I know if I’m not careful, I can very well look up and find that’s the reality of my marriage.
A “going through the motions” marriage can take years to “arrive,” but luckily it’s possible to turn back the clock and rekindle those old feelings of excitement and love. My tips are “quickies,” but they are not quick-fixes. Meaning, they are easy and quick to do, but they must be done consistently over time.
The habits you formed in your marriage over time are what got you to where your marriage is today. The habits I’m about to share with you, when done over time, will bring the love back, will spark the fire, and will have you feeling the good feelings you had when you got engaged.
Here are three ”quickies” to help you stay in love after years of marriage:
1. Play the dating game
I don’t care how many times you see or hear about the importance of dating in marriage, it should never get old. Dating is what led to you getting married, and dating is what will keep you happily married. Never stop dating for as long as you are married. I have a relationship goal to date my wife weekly for the rest of my life. I miss some weeks, but I never get comfortable missing dates with her.
2. Learn to speak one another’s (love) language
If you’ve never read Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages book, then the minute you finish reading this article, visit Amazon or your favorite book store and buy it. If money is an issue, find it at your local library. Your spouse feels most loved when you communicate with him/her in a certain way. Creating the habit of speaking his/her love language will help you stay in love.
3. Forgive even if you can’t forget
All of us mess up. Some mess up big and a lot, while others mess up small or very little. This includes you and your spouse. Holding onto his/her past mistakes will prevent you from loving them the way you can today and in the future. You may not be able to forget every mistake they’ve made, but you can forgive and still love them.
Those are just a few “quickies” you can do to stay in love. It’ll help you whether you’ve been married a day or longer than a decade. There are many more, and I’m sure you can suggest some yourself …
Source: Babble.com