| Does your marriage revolve around your | | | | |
| children or grandchildren? Do you and your | | | | Try to be accepting and positive of what your |
| spouse spend too much time apart? Have you | | | | spouse has to say even if what you hear |
| grown apart? Imagine your marriage 20 years | | | | surprises you. If you have a hard time |
| from now. How is it going to be if you keep | | | | keeping your mouth shut, I suggest you sit on |
| up with your current approach? If you don't | | | | your hands. Somehow this simple behavior |
| like the thought of your future with its | | | | helps you keep quiet so that you just listen. |
| present course, then your marriage may need a | | | | Remember, one good idea could be life |
| spring cleaning. | | | | changing to your marriage. |
| | | | |
| Ernest Holmes said, "Life is a mirror and | | | | Be curious and eager to know your spouse all |
| will reflect back to the thinker what he | | | | over again. It doesn't take both of you to |
| thinks into it." Have your thoughts | | | | do the spring cleaning, even though it helps. |
| undermined a once great relationship? If so, | | | | You'd be surprised by what one dedicated |
| you can redirect your thoughts and thus | | | | spouse can do. And just like the spring |
| redirect the future of your marriage. Most | | | | cleaning of your home, your marriage deserves |
| couples put more effort into the planning of | | | | many cleanings. Keep your marriage fresh and |
| their vacation than they do their marriage. | | | | alive. Tap into your ability to dream again. |
| | | | Rediscover the beauty of your husband or |
| Remember the days of dating each other? You | | | | wife. Take one step today towards the |
| couldn't get enough of each other and gladly | | | | renewing of your marriage. Then take another |
| gave a lot of attention to your partner. | | | | step tomorrow. And so on and so on.. |
| After a couple gets married they are pulled | | | | |
| apart by things like their career and the | | | | Here are some additional "cleaning solutions" |
| needs of their children. A routine develops | | | | for your marriage. |
| and if the couple isn't careful, so does a | | | | |
| sense of boredom. | | | | 1. Try to see your spouse with fresh eyes. |
| | | | |
| Unfortunately, your spouse tends to get | | | | 2. Keep your mind focused on your spouse's |
| blamed for the boredom. But don't be too | | | | positive qualities. |
| quick to judge. Simply because you have been | | | | |
| together for a number of years doesn't mean | | | | 3. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. |
| that you know your spouse today. People | | | | Forgiving yourself and your spouse is an |
| change. As men get older, they tend to shift | | | | attribute of the strong. |
| focus from their career to their family. | | | | |
| Women tend to go in the direction of career | | | | 4. If you are keeping score of your spouse's |
| because they have put their career pursuits | | | | mistakes, you are setting your marriage up to |
| on hold for the sake of their children. | | | | fail. |
| | | | |
| The goals you had early in the marriage have | | | | 5. Life is too short to allow boredom to |
| probably changed. But your partner may have | | | | infiltrate your marriage. |
| the assumption that you still want things the | | | | |
| way they were in the beginning. Especially | | | | 6. Good things often come from the difficult |
| in the ages between 35 and 55, what's | | | | times. |
| important to you and what matters most are | | | | |
| usually being re-evaluated. | | | | 7. Strive to genuinely understand your |
| | | | spouse. |
| Talk with your partner about what is really | | | | |
| important to you. What would make your life | | | | 8. Break your routines to keep the marriage |
| more satisfying? Listen to your spouse. | | | | exciting. |
| Encourage them to share their views. Be open | | | | |
| to what they say. Don't be too sensitive or | | | | 9. Maintain an attitude that encourages |
| defensive. Don't be judgmental. It doesn't | | | | openness. |
| take a rocket scientist to figure out that if | | | | |
| you overreact to what they say, your spouse | | | | 10. Strive to find the magic that is waiting |
| isn't going to talk to you. | | | | to be discovered in your spouse. |