10 Secrets of a Happy Marriage!

My husband, Danny, and I celebrated our 25^th anniversary on October 10^th. Many have asked, “What’s your secret to a happy marriage?” Here are my Top Ten Secrets!

Secret #1:

You have to be willing to go the extra mile.

I went one thousand miles when moving from Wisconsin to Colorado after our wedding. Danny is the most romantic guy around. He asked me to marry him at the top of the gondola in Aspen after giving me nine plastic rings over the weekend. He continues to surprise me. “Gasp!”

Secret #2:

He’s my best friend and I don’t keep secrets from him.

I can tell him anything, but I can also read his mind when it’s screaming, “That is way too much information, Susie. Sheesh!”

Secret #3.

I can trust him with anything.

But it took years to teach him not to eat the last piece of cake without asking me to split it first. He has also led me on some wild adventures without considering the risks. His faith in me gave me confidence. *gulp*

Secret #4.

We have common interests.

I had skied back in Wisconsin but had to learn to keep up in Colorado. We both love outdoor adventures. Our anniversary is being celebrated for a week this year in California. We both agree that the best kind of adventure includes travel!

Secret #5:

Appreciate the differences.

I am philosophical and love to yammer on about life while navel-gazing. I can tell when he has hit the glaze-over stage. My first clue is when he stares at me blankly and hasn’t said anything for over a half an hour. Yes, I occasionally take a breath.

He loves business and has learned to talk fast since I have about three minutes before my mind wanders off. “Wow, look at that butterfly. What? Sure, I was listening.”

Secret #6.

He’s my super fan.

When I first started blogging, he printed out my posts and kept them in a binder. He has total belief in me which inspired Who’s In Your Corner?

We support each other’s hopes and dreams and pick each other up after every disappointment. Often, when I make a mistake, he says, “Aww, that could happen to anyone.”

Secret #7:

Apologize when mistakes are made.

This one is tricky especially since I am always right. Kidding! I think it has more to do with letting things go and developing amnesia.

Secret #8:

We have given up trying to change accept each other for who we are.

He has seen me at my best and worst and still loves me. Who could ask for more?

Secret #9:

We have the same beliefs and shared dreams for a future together.

In Telluride 25 years ago, I told him my invisible punch list of what I was looking for in a relationship. He agreed with almost everything. He wasn’t so sure about dogs, but our third, Roxy, is his favorite by far.

He has been completely involved in raising our children. They love to talk business with him, thank the Lord! (See Secret #5)

Secret #10:

The most important factor in having a successful marriage is …..

You gotta have a sense of humor.

We laugh all the time; at ourselves and each other.

When I was pregnant, he used to sing, “Roly Poly, Daddy’s little fatty!” Okay, so I didn’t always find that amusing, but looking back it was funny, kinda.

He’s my muse and in almost every one of my posts. I wrote, KO’d by Karma, after being kicked in the butt for laughing at him, but I learned my lesson, well, not quite yet.

Standing jokes:

We attended an endless mass this summer that included a wedding of some random young couple. The priest said, “Back in the day, many didn’t see their 40^th birthday so ‘til death do us part was no big deal. Nowadays, many live to be one hundred years old. You could easily be married for seventy-five years! Seventy-five years! That’s a death sentence for some people.”

While the congregation laughed and the newlyweds looked concerned, Danny looked at me and said, “Fifty more years!”

Here’s a virtual toast to our Wild Ride!

Our 30th wedding anniversary is coming soon!

Click for more of the Wild Ride.

Related posts:

Oprah and Me!

Our Secret is Out

Who’s in Your Corner?