Recently I read an article via Facebook entitled “10 Habits of Happy Couples” from Psychology Today.

I read it and thought…..wow….this is so true.

I also thought….wow….we have some things to work on!

You can find the article here.

I knew instantly I had to share it with my guy by the first line….”It starts by going to bed at the same time.”

Anyone else have this trouble?  Sometimes turns into an argument?  The “you don’t love me anymore because you fall asleep in your chair” argument?  No, just me?  I’m dramatic, you say?  Hmmm…that’s what he says too.

1. Go to bed at the same time.   We seem to do this about once in a blue moon.  I get up early…he doesn’t.  I like to read before bed….he doesn’t.  I need lots of beauty sleep….he’s naturally good looking.  It’s hard…we need to put forth more effort.  I guess either I need to stay up later or he needs to go to bed early.  At least start with once or twice a week and maybe work up to every day.  2

2. Cultivate common interests.  My guy is really good about this…I’m lucky.  We are always trying to find things to do together…even if it means a trip to the grocery.  

3. Walk hand in hand or side by side.  Love holding hands. 

4.  Make trust and forgiveness your default mode.  Trust and forgive.  These two are complicated tasks for a stubborn gal like myself.  My stubbornness comes naturally and inherited from my sweet family.  These two things I certainly can stand to work on at times.  

5.  Focus more on what your partner does right than what he or she does wrong.  It would do me some good to look for the positives.  Stop worrying about what isn’t.  Just be happy.  Someone once told me that.  

6.  Hug each other as soon as you see each other after work.  I use to associate hugs with the painful day of my mother’s funeral viewing.  Hug after hug after hug.  For hours.  Hugs would make me go back there and remember that day and how much I despised the sympathy implied with those hugs…sympathy I didn’t want….because I didn’t want to wake up and realize she was really gone.  My guy gives the best hugs.  I’m getting a lot better at appreciating his hugs because they are so wonderful. He can always give me that feeling that everything will be okay.  

7.  Say “I love you” and “Have a good day” every morning. I love hearing those words.  The day just doesn’t seem right without them.  

8. Say “Good night” every night, regardless of how you feel.  There’s no feeling worse than a night without these words.  Just seems unsettling.  And for a worry wart like me I just can’t sleep.   I’m so glad they are hardly ever.  

9.  Do a “weather” check during the day.  Always nice to check in with him.  Sometimes it can’t happen until lunch, but just to check in and make sure he’s doing okay.  

10. Be proud to be seen with your partner. We belong together and everyone should know it.  

After reading this, I realize how incredibly fortunate I am to have this man in my life.  Sure there are days he drives me nuts….but honestly I don’t know what I’d do without those moments.  Even when he is driving me nuts, he is always putting a smile on my face.

He is so special.