Recently, I was talking to a friend about relationships and marriage. She made the statement that, “You know, you see those couples who are always so happy and never have anything bad to say. No one can ever be that happy.” I had to really think about what she said as I was a little taken aback. This was probably in part because I’m that person that will always post about how great my husband is (no really, he is), and never anything disrespectful about the disagreements we may have. Of course our differences and challenges exist and some of them may be petty. But contrary to popular belief (and mainstream media), people don’t need to see or hear all of that! Just because they always appear to be happy, doesn’t mean they are putting on some sort of a show.
Happy couples really do exist because….…
They embrace the challenges.
Sometimes challenges in your marriage arise because you need to be “checked”. You may think there’s nothing wrong with how you talk or handle certain situations. For example, a couple of months ago, my husband thanked me for something I hadn’t even realized would mean so much to him. He was in a bad mood, and when I asked him what was wrong, he told me he had a headache, so I said ok and left him alone. That’s it. I didn’t cop an attitude right back. I didn’t give him the cold shoulder, or the infamous stank face. I simply let him feel what he was feeling and come talk to me when he was ready.
This has always been a challenge for me to do, until recently. I have always been quick to cop an attitude or get defensive with certain things/subjects. I was the Queen of grudge holding. He was not really allowed to get upset even if it had nothing to do with me directly. This one little…okay, a major adjustment in my attitude, has made for some quicker make-ups and happier conversations. Sometimes you are the one who holds the key to a happier marriage.
They praise their spouse in public, and disagree in private.
I’ve honestly never understood the airing of dirty laundry between spouses, especially when it comes to doing it on social media. I had to delete a friend from my Facebook friends list because she and her husband were going at it and disrespecting each other in the ugliest sense of the word…only a couple of months into marriage. There was name-calling, bus rolling, and back stabbing exchanges going on right in the comfort of their own…Facebook newsfeeds. It was nasty and embarrassing.
So yes, I give my husband a lot of praise and probably not even all of the praise that he deserves. I can’t imagine deliberately embarrassing him in public or on social media. We are very conscious of this even if it’s just in front of the kids or family.
Check out the viral video of the gospel song – “Keep Your Business Off of Facebook”
We have all this down pact except having fun together. We have different ideas of fun. His idea is watching a movie, tv or playing video games. My idea is board games, dancing, joking around or going out and exploring the town. What are some things you would suggest that we can do together?
Hi Tammy!
My husband and I are generally opposites when it comes to our ideas of fun too. But there are some things we can find common ground in. We like to go putt putt golfing, bowling, going to the movies (and the kids love these things too). Sometimes it’s playing outside. Our next thing is getting some new bikes so we can join the kids for rides around the neighborhood.
Thank you! We have things to do with the kids, we just have to find things to do with each other. Usually, I will just compromise and we will go to an early movie and go eat lunch, but I am browsing for new activities. He doesn’t mind because he LOVES (really loves lol) movies. I will suggest putt putt and bowling! Hope it works 🙂
Hi Tami (please forgive me for spelling your name wrong earlier). I think part of the adventure is finding new thighs to do together, which is what we are in the process of doing. We used to love going to comedy shows, concerts and plays so going to get back to some of that too 🙂 Good luck and I’m sure you’ll find some fun (new) things you’ll both enjoy 🙂
Yes they do. Learning to laugh is essential.
Laughter really is the best medicine Nylse! 🙂
Dear Christine. My comment might come from different point of view. I am a Catholic, an Indonesian, with so much different ways of culture, point of thinking, believs and other things.
However when it comes to marriage life, i believe that we are all the same.
We (at this case, the wife) expect to have a happy marriage life.
As my little family just started 2,5 years ago with not-yet kids around, we do have our own problems and things i called “ordinary daily obstacles” that could turn a happy smiling face in the morning to an angry and hatred face by the evening.
I totaly agree with you to say when we came to a hard communication, it is on us who can direct the situation to become a harshful talking or a comfortly and calming down exchange words.
I found it very difficult, since i myself is a person who easily to get mad and talk in high pitch, which by experiences i found it’s the other reason that make our regular talk could change to a “high-pitched argumentation”.
Thank You for sharing the basic things – that actually we knew it deeply inside our mind and heart but mostly we put it aside – and reminded us how important it is in helping us to achieve a happy marriage life.
Hi Filly,
Thanks so much for sharing and being so transparent. I can truly relate as I am definitely still a work in progress. But I’ve come a LONG way and can see how it’s affected my relationship with my husband. I’m so glad you enjoyed the article and were reminded of the basic things, as sometimes those are the things we tend to overlook.
Thank you SO much for this article. It gets so disheartening sometimes to overhear or converse with someone who does not realize that there are real and happy marriages still in existence. In this day and time people are so used to these “reality show” relationships, negative song lyrics, and absurd belief systems they so readily adapt and view as normal. That dysfunctional picture of how relationships are will keep people unhappy, lonely, and on that depressing merry-go-round forever. It makes me feel good to know there are still couples that are happy and being an example for those that still believe.
Hi Courtney, thanks so much for taking time to read and share your comment. I agree that there is a lot of emphasis on the negativity and not the positive examples of marriage that really do exist. I still have single friends so I definitely want to also encourage others to still believe, like you said 🙂
I’m really feeling this Christine! People have the hardest time believing that my wife and I are as happy as we are. It’s not that we are perfect or don’t have disagreements but the good far outweighs the bad. For some reason we want to believe the negative and discredit the positive thus the need for a great site like this one and great articles like yours!
Wow Troy, so honored as I read a LOT of your articles so thank you for commenting and also encouraging others to maintain a happy marriage. I totally agree with the need for sites like this. There’s so much negativity out there that its almost easier to believe that couples are NOT happy than when they are!
Thank you for this. This is why I love this site. It’s a breath of fresh air. It’s an oasis in the desert of negativity that permeates the internet (and media in general) when it comes to relationships and marriages, particularly those between black couples.
Keep shining the light.
Hi MommiDearest, thanks so much for sharing. I totally agree with you and am so thankful to Lamar & Ronnie for this site. It truly is an “oasis in the desert of negativity”.
You’re right
Christine, you are right on it! I thought you were telling all my secrets! My husband and I have been together for some time and when we go out to functions many people think we just met, they give us 6 months in the relationship, we have been together for 13 years! It amazes us at times. How have we been together for so long and it still feels like the first day. It takes two as my mom always says! Great read Christine!
Haha Natasha thank you SO much! I love it! It def takes two and I can relate to being together for so long, but it not feeling that way, so keep it up! *Cheers to happy marriages 😉
I feel like these comments might be fake, just another marketing tactic for your blog. Better comments mean greater interest in your products. Really? Feel like the first day?
Really beautiful.You are truly gifted.Thank you.