"Relationships aren't like cockfights," writer Joey Comeau once opined, "they're not failures if they don't last until one of you is dead.
" While I agree with the sentiment -- there are many ways to have a successful relationship -- the best marriages (like the best cockfights) tend to go the distance.
While specific advice on marriage rarely seems pertinent to your particular pairing, there are some general principles that can keep spouses happily together past old age.
The best advice on marriage usually comes down to a fundamental element: husbands and wives are people too.
Just because you spend more time with your significant other than anybody else doesn't negate their right to an opinion, or your need to show them respect.
If you reserve your kindness for strangers and your favorite cashier at Arby's, your relationship will suffer.
Some advice on marriage can come off as counter-intuitive; one example of this is "have your own space.
" While much of getting hitched revolves around combining two previously separate lives, it's important to keep a sense of autonomy in order to remain fully realized as an individual.
If your identity begins to revolve entirely around the fact that the government legally recognizes your sex life, both your personal life and marriage will become strained.
This advice on marriage isn't to imply that you shouldn't want to spend time with your partner, but rather that you should be able to spend it alone.
Desperation is never an attractive trait.
Advice on marriage can be helpful, but no teacher can beat experience.
Be respectful, loving, and open-minded, and with a little luck, you and your spouse will be able to tackle any challenges together.