YOU KEEP TRYING NEW THINGS TOGETHER
A marriage that is exciting, fresh, and filled with new twists and turns may mean that you’re less likely to leave. “Part of planning and experiencing new things is that there’s the anticipation of trying something new, the creation of new memories, and the fun of each discovery,” says Kathryn Dickerson, a principal and family law attorney at SmolenPlevy in metro Washington, D.C. “It recalls, in part, the excitement of when you started dating and discovering things about each other.”
YOUR LAUGH THROUGH LIFE
Having things in common, like a sense of humor, helps a relationship stay strong. “Note that this is not at the other person’s failings, but that you both find humor in the same thing – that you are both present and sharing a moment,” says Dickerson. “There is something very cathartic but not necessarily sexual about laughing. It relieves stress and anxiety, and it causes endorphins to flow and creates positive associations with the other person.”
YOU EACH HAVE YOUR OWN INTERESTS
While having things in common is always helpful to a marriage, having your own interests and hobbies can also give your relationship the space it occasionally needs. “Having your own interests allows you to remain a whole person, not someone subsumed into the other person,” says Dickerson. “It is also important that the other person supports your interests and participates.”
