What’s the one thing every newlywed should know?
A newlywed once asked me for advice just after she returned from her honeymoon. I came up with something about the importance of “communication”.
What I should have told her is that a relationship is work and if you don’t put in the effort – which, paradoxically, also involves working on your own crap – you’re headed for trouble. The problem is that no one tells you this stuff before you get married, so you better learn to be brutally honest with yourself first, and only then should you consider getting involved in a serious relationship.
What would your advice to a newlywed be?
My advice is to watch what you eat. Every night we would crack open a bottle of wine and make a big dinner…10 pounds later you wonder where you are and how you got there.
How about “learn how to argue without hurting each other’s feelings”.
(Is this possible?)
Did you get married for the right reasons would be my question to the newly wed.
It’s true, if we are clear on who we are, what we want then we will have a higher success rate staying married. Ok ok, if you are married, then I’d do all I can to study my partners’ needs, character, personality, likes, dislikes, but more importantly I’d learn all I could to be a master at communicating my needs.
I’d also be careful to nurture my new relationship rather then let career, outside family and friends dictate my schedule. What’s life if you have a successful career yet your relationship is not thriving.
SO true, Jacqueline – thanks!