Thread by @SandeepMall

31 years into the marriage and still happy in the relationship certainly qualifies me to pass down some free ka relationship gyan to others. This pic last year at Rishikesh. This is first time in three decades we are home for anniversary

1. Have realistic expectations. Happily ever after doesn’t exist. Somedays it’s struggle and somedays u feel like the luckiest person in the world
2. Respect is the most important factor in a relationship. Not love, kids, religion, communication etc etc

3. Talk about everything. Most importantly things that hurt. The key to maintain trust is being transparent to each other.
4. Give each other loads of space. Two healthy individuals make relationship work. Give ur partner freedom and independence. Let them be who they are

5. Like u build muscles and become stronger by doing resistance, similarly relationship needs resistance to grow. Be good at fighting each other. Obstacles make the marriage.
6. Do not bring previous fights into current one. Being right is not important. Get good at forgiving

7. Sex matters ... a lot.
8. There is no 50:50 rule like u do half dishes and I bring half money. We all have things we are good at and not good at. Accept that. Be practical.
9. Don’t be too influenced by family, friends, parents, kids.
10. Don’t stop doing the little things

Eventually parents die, kids grow up. You are only one left together. Parents are expected to make sacrifices for children and I think that’s bullshit. Good kids don’t make a marriage. A good marriage makes good kids. So take care of each other.