Fifteen Years Married

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Green Dragon Artist — 9 Comments

I’m certainly no expert on marriage.

However, I can say I’m celebrating my fifteenth anniversary today, and of my first marriage. I saw many friends get married, get divorced in a few years, only to marry again – and sometimes a third time, or never at all.

I decided to skip the crappy first marriage and go straight to the permanent one.

It wasn’t a conscious decision, not in so many words. However, I did vow to myself when I was in college that I wouldn’t get married without getting my degree first. Of course, the point was mostly moot. Except for when I was 16 (and a Columbian college student asked me to become his Anchor Bride), I never received any offers of marriage until well after my Bachelors AND my Masters degrees were completed.

Still, I knew life could be fulfilling and happy without a husband. My mom had proven that to me many times over. She didn’t get married for the first time until after I did! (If you want to learn more about this romantic tale, see my book Better To Have Loved).

But, as I said, today is Fifteen Years. They’ve been full of love and hate, fights and make-ups. My best advice, such as it is:

Don’t go to bed angry.
Make sure you each have your own space to retreat to – and then don’t invade the other person’s space. That’s their sanctuary.
Have common interests, but also have your own. Respect the others’ interests. Support them as much as you can, but don’t try to control them.
Have mutual friends.
Don’t be jealous of time spent with their friends.
Don’t be jealous. Period.
Most fights are over money or sex. While these are important things, neither is essential to your love and respect for each other. If they are all that’s holding you together, you’re in lust/greed, not love.
Kiss each other good night every night. Yes, every night.
Tell the other you love them every day. Yes, every day.
Consider the other person’s needs.
Tell the other person your needs (don’t make them guess!)

That’s about it, really. It’s worked for us, for the most part. Hopefully it helps someone else!

*****

I write historical fantasy novels, mostly set in Ireland, and a contemporary romance based on my parents’ 30-year search for true love. Don’t miss information on Celtic myth and history, as well as practical travel planning tips, and hidden places, in my travel books.

– Better To Have Loved – Contemporary romance based on the true story of my parents’ 30-year search for love

– Legacy of Hunger – Historical fantasy set in 1846 Ireland

– Legacy of Truth – Historical fantasy set around 1800 Ireland. Prequel to Legacy of Hunger. Available now!

– Legacy of Luck – Historical fantasy set in 1745 Ireland and Scotland. Prequel to Legacy of Truth, tentative release date January 11, 2017!

– The Enchanted Swans – Historical fantasy set in 500 BCE Ireland, based on The Children of Lir, an Irish Fairy Tale. Tentative release date March 8, 2017!

– Stunning, Strange and Secret: A Guide to Hidden Scotland

– Mythical, Magical, Mystical: A Guide to Hidden Ireland

More info at Green Dragon Artist :: Home ,
Christy Jackson Nicholas, Author , and
Tirgearr Publishing – Christy Nicholas

Green Dragon Artist Blog

Handmade at Amazon Store

About Green Dragon Artist

Celtic Fairies, Fables, and Folklore! Bestselling author (top #100 Amazon Canada, #1 in Paranormal Fantasy, Amazon Canada) Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon, is an author, artist and accountant. After she failed to become an airline pilot, she quit her ceaseless pursuit of careers that begin with 'A', and decided to concentrate on her writing. Since she has Project Completion Disorder, she is one of the few authors with NO unfinished novels. Christy has her hands in many crafts, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing, and photography. In real life, she's a CPA, but having grown up with art all around her (her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected her, as it were. She wants to expose the incredible beauty in this world, hidden beneath the everyday grime of familiarity and habit, and share it with others. She uses characters out of time and places infused with magic and myth. Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. She does local art and craft shows, as well as sending her art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad. Facebook: www.facebook.com/greendragonauthor Homepage: www.greendragonartist.com Blog: www.greendragonartist.net Twitter: www.twitter.com/greendragon9