16/03/2024
Happy St Patrick’s Day to Ye’ all!
This is the 40th St Patrick's Day Donna and I have celebrated together as Husband and Wife.
We couldn’t have imagined what life would look like now, back in 1984. Three amazing kids with wonderful partners of their own and nine little grand rascals, life is very full!
Reflecting on 40 years of marriage last night led me to wonder, “What makes a HAPPY marriage?”
Whenever there is some sort of celebration, we wish happiness to fall upon the day, person, marriage, friendship, birthday, event or any memorable moment. But how can we choose to be HAPPY in those memorable moments, particularly in our marriage?
My crazy brain works in Acronyms, Backronyms, Acrostics and Word-ladders. So for this special moment, St Pat’s Day and our 40th Anniversary, let's discover how to stay HAPPY in Marriage
H= Helpful
Are you helpful in your relationship? Do you look to help each other? Do you carry the load, share the burden, support, encourage and consider each other first? Are you 100% in? Do you think of yourself first, or are you looking to be there for your partner first? Being considerate, kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and a blessing to your partner is helpful. We need to show, act and demonstrate our love through helpfulness.
A= Attitude
Do you have a good and positive attitude towards your partner? An attitude is chosen. Thinking positively, politely, protectively, positionally and proactively toward your partner, preferring them in front of you, will gather the right ingredients together to help you bake a good attitude and make a great relationship. I heard many years ago, “Attitude brings Altitude” We will be as high in life as we want to be by the attitude we choose, not the default attitude that creeps up on us.
P= Patience
Love is patient and kind, does not keep a record of wrongs but rejoices in what is right. Patience is practical love. It slows life down for the right reason. If you wait for and wait on your partner, the weight of your love and patience will be displayed and revealed in every area, and that could become the turning point from tension and conflict. When patience meets frustration and anger, it is like putting water on a fire. When impatience opens the door…Well… you know what that is like and most of us have been there.
P= Persistence
Persistence is having a soft heart and a firm resolve. Obstinance is having a hard heart and no resolve. To have a happy marriage, you need to be persistent. At the altar, we make an unconditional promise to an imperfect person. So, how did you think that was going to work out without being persistent?
At the Altar, we didn’t make a commitment to alter the other person so we could be happy. When the two become one, the best one the two become is the best of both of them, not the most dominant, getting their own way all the time.
Persistence is an authentic commitment to the person when life hits the flip side of our vows. Love is easy when we are healthy, wealthy, faithful, better, and feel cherished. When our love is tested with trials of unhealthy, unfaithful, hardship, feeling ignored, and things have taken a turn for the worse, persistence is what needs to kick in to restore your relationship. You may not feel like loving, but persistence is the starter motor for turning your life around.
Y = Yes
Say yes to more things in your life. When “I do” becomes “I did” you need to think about where it is you are heading. Saying yes to adventure, living life to the full, risk, intimacy, fun, being daring and having courage! Living life with determination opens your life up, whereas saying no all the time closes your life down. Many people I know will live the next year ten times and not live the next ten years. If you genuinely want to live this one opportunity of life, you have to say yes more often to its opportunities. To experience all the wonderful things you will enjoy by saying yes, you will make mistakes, maybe have a few regrets, fail sometimes and have a couple of disappointments, but you will have lived. Your life is not a dress rehearsal. It is the main movie, and you are the star of this show, not in the supporting cast! So shine, say yes boldly and live your life to the max!
So, if you are Helpful, have a great Attitude, regardless of the circumstances, you are Patient and Persistent you will find that not only will you say Yes to life more often, life will say Yes back to you and you will love living life. Planalife you want to live then go out and live it!
Have a great St Pat’s Day and I am off to enjoy my anniverary. Happy wife, happy life. Happy Hubby, home buddy!