31-derful Years!

It's not every day that a husband and wife can celebrate 31 years of wedded bliss. In fact, there are very few couples who even survive 31 years with each other. Why? Because they haven't learned the secret to a good marriage.

First of all, marriage is not about love; it's about commitment. If you love someone, but you are not committed to them, the marriage is doomed to fail. People fall in and out of love, and people fall in and out of relationships at the drop of a hat. Why? Because they haven't committed themselves to each other.

Marriage is not a 50-50 proposition. It is not about each individual giving 50% of themselves and their time into the union. Marriage is a 110-110 proposition; each individual must give 110% to the relationship in order for it to succeed.

After 31 years of marriage, I think I may actually be qualified as a subject-matter expert! I have been married to the most wonderful, caring, supportive man for all of those 31 years, and I wouldn't trade him for anything. How do we do it? By giving 110% to our relationship. We listen to each other, we make decisions together, we take walks and hold hands, and we reminisce together.

Just the other day, we were remembering a time when Becky was riding her BigWheel and plowed into a parked car. Then there was the time when I was in the hospital and my husband and my mother were in the room with me. The nurse came in and said that my mother and father would have to leave. The nurse was very embarrassed when I politely explained that they were my mother and my HUSBAND. (My mom always looked young for her age, and at the time, I was 24 but looked like a teenager!)

We have made a lot of memories in 31 years, and while I am sure that I won't be able to recall all of them, I do recall that they were made with the man that I love AND that I am committed to. I look forward to another 31 years together!