First of all, congratulations on becoming a newlywed! We hope that you’ve had an incredible wedding day and that it was everything you wanted it to be.

Sharing the adventure of going through life with someone you love is a blessing, however too many people go into a marriage thinking that it won’t be much different than any long-term relationship. Truth is, with so called “wedding season” out of the way, many newlyweds will agree that living with another person – who is both a lover and a friend – has its ups and downs.

Responsibilities must be assumed, and new duties must be accepted. Some personal freedoms must be relinquished, and many adjustments (unselfish adjustments!) must be made. It’s a learning curve and not everyone finds it a walk in the park. So yes, expect challenges in the first year of marriage, but embrace those challenges as opportunities to grow as a couple.

And, yeah, we know, as newlyweds you probably get a lot of “never go to bed angry,” and “always tell the truth,” but what is the secret to thriving during this period of adjustment?

Here’s the thing, remember that not every day will be perfect, or even good, and that’s okay. Some days it will feel like an obstacle course where you have to carry your spouse up a mountain or through a pit of mud! Marriage is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and often referred to as “the wet cement year” (the time when both partners figure out how to live as a couple without getting stuck), the first year of marriage is incredibly important to build a strong foundation for your future happiness.

We have a few pointers to help you on this amazing journey:

Choose to love each other every day, and yes, it is a choice. Marriage is a 50/50 relationship, so if you put in 60, you’ll be fine.

Make your house a home where both of you feel safe, a place where you want to be.

Make loving him/her your priority. Over your job, your friends, your family. Even over your children.

Kindness is king. It’s the tone with which you respond, or the attentiveness with which you listen. It’s reaching for his/her hand. If he had a tough day, give him a soft place to land.

Be appreciative, affectionate, and share your joy. Lighting up when he or she enters the room will send positive reverberations through your relationship. Small gestures, big rewards.

Pick your battles. Let the small stuff go. Focus on being better, not being right.

Have some adventures. It’s all about making memories.

Have weekly money meetings. Never keep spending habits from each other. Always have an emergency fund and team up to save. Remember, living together means paying for bills together.

ALWAYS. TRUST. EACH. OTHER.

Have your own interests. Some alone time will strengthen your bond.

Never stop having sex. If you’re keeping track of how often you have sex, you’re not having sex enough. Numerous studies have shown that the secret to a long and happy marriage is sex, sex, sex.

A wise man once said: “you get what you give; when you give better, you get better.” So true, don’t you think?

Source: www.marriage.com, tolovehonorandvacuum.com, www.lds.org, www.nicolesmithee.com, www.thedatingdivas.com, www.personalcreations.com, mrandmrsshowe.com, mymarriednamechange.com, time.com, lifecounselor.net, ohioline.osu.edu, www.womanshealthmag.com, club31women.com, faithfullymagazine.com, www.lifehack.org, gracelovelife.com, ourpeacefulfamily.com