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5 Rules That May Help Give You 50 years of Marriage

And that I’m still learning each day

Tom Hanratty
3 min readSep 28, 2019
Photo by Alex Iby on Unsplash

1. Learn to argue fairly

Never call your partner/spouse ‘stupid’ or any other insulting label. She doesn’t need to be diminished, and you don’t need to be renting a one-room flat over a tavern.

Keep your temper in check. If you feel like lashing out, go for a walk or run instead. Burn off your anger in some way other than physical violence. Men, take note: They know where you sleep.

Disagree, of course, but disagree with ideas or actions, not with the value of the person you love above all others.

Arguments are always emotional, regardless of logical points. Humans are emotional beings who use logic. Not the other way around.

And for everyone’s sake, stay sober. A heated discussion with your loved one is not the time for foggy, poor judgment.

2. Support the other person

Take her side against anyone else, even if you think she’s wrong. That includes parents, kids, school principals, or other authority figures. Talk it out later if you disagree with her view, but don’t undercut her in public.

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Tom Hanratty
Tom Hanratty

Written by Tom Hanratty

Scribbler of stories, lover of mysteries, retired Forensic Investigator and Tracker of critters. tomhanratty@substack.com

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