25 Marriage Tips From Couples Who’ve Been Together 25+ Years

6 Things You Should Never, Ever Say to Your Partner [Fatherly](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/1myjQW6qKL5-RakEdl6llDWCrfY=268) Marriage advice is easy to ignore until you need it. Who hasn’t rolled their eyes at such trite aphorisms as “Say sorry even if you don’t mean it” or “Don’t go to bed angry”? These phrases tend to leak out of people’s mouths around weddings and anniversaries but are barely helpful. True, lived-in advice for a long, happy marriage isn’t so tidy because neither are relationships. So, what is some honest advice from couples who’ve been through the long haul? We recently asked 25 people who have been married for 25 plus years about what makes their relationship work. Here’s what they said, and why it’s helped them stay together for the long run. LOVE %2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fmarriage-advice-from-couples-married-25-plus-years%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/rGDsgOLo9zH2eu1m_0uBmuPfqkE=268 [25 Marriage Tips from Couples Who’ve Been Together 25+ Years](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fmarriage-advice-from-couples-married-25-plus-years%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/2/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/Z40Rdi4wZe4AQd_XM-lIu6Ep6zk=268) What keeps a relationship going for the long haul? Here are the honest answers from those [who've been married for a quarter-century or more](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fmarriage-advice-from-couples-married-25-plus-years%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/3/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/W-Uybfo_tWuKIuK15qJv9UD4TJo=268) [READ THE STORY](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fmarriage-advice-from-couples-married-25-plus-years%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/4/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/c4BKrcU8rsbkk_KsKa4kzAu17LY=268) TIPS AND TRICKS What Helps Couples Stay Content? They Embrace the Upside At the beginning of a relationship, positive emotions are flowing with regularity. Excitement, joy, and passion are all right at your fingertips. But, as the relationship progresses and you both get more comfortable with each other, some people expect that those positive emotions will just happen without any effort. Not so. “The research shows that the happiest couples with the most sustainable marriages are the ones who actively cultivate them all the time and prioritize them as opposed to waiting around for them to happen,” says, Suzann Pileggi, co-author of Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts “Because, like with anything, the newness of something, those heightened positive emotions, the level, and the frequency just naturally don’t occur as much as at the beginning of a relationship, the falling-in-love stage.” So, couples in long-term relationships who are looking to cultivate positive emotions must ask themselves What can I do each day? What activities or actions can I do in order to keep positive emotions flowing in my marriage? “Imagine if you just bought a gym membership and went once and then said, ‘Okay, now I’m going to be fit,’” Pileggi says. “No, you work out regularly and throughout your lifetime.” FURTHER READING - [23 Damn Good Pieces of Marriage Advice to Read](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fdamn-good-marriage-advice%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/jp64ekhr65zxG1QNmYgB2993Jsw=268) - ​​​​​[5 Habits of Truly Happy Marriages](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fhappy-marriage-habits-positive-psychology%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/TTnQlpOXWuRT6yGCh16ZMKKRCmw=268) - [The Right Way to Tell Your Partner You Were Wrong](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fhow-to-admit-you-were-wrong%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/qK5Q_vDg0EI52ik27RBD67IfPPs=268) DONT' YOU DARE %2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fthings-a-husband-should-never-say-to-partner%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/bQUKo-jkhHpljjI1bKL1Txk9WX8=268 [6 Things You Should Never, Ever Say to Your Partner](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fthings-a-husband-should-never-say-to-partner%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/2/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/iFPnKacECk3jzQTCNcI8trhb0N4=268) Chances are, you know these. Because of course you do. [But it's good to remind yourself.](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fthings-a-husband-should-never-say-to-partner%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/3/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/Phtdu7PhK5YJDt_yA3kUiV7n_t4=268) [READ THE STORY](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fthings-a-husband-should-never-say-to-partner%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/4/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/cVhHzFJqWcocmJp4Zp8f_-GEPKA=268) THE LONG HAUL %2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fsigns-of-happy-marriage-that-lasts%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/J9XaRBn_f-xpwFzHLHNk6oVmM9A=268 [How Happy Couples Stay Happy: 7 Signs of a Rock-Solid Relationship](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fsigns-of-happy-marriage-that-lasts%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/2/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/45Spr693vqJQVR3kl1gU1vgraFY=268) This is what it takes for [a marriage to stay happy over time.](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fsigns-of-happy-marriage-that-lasts%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/3/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/EgT7mImH05a0lx7D2NgoHo1QQJg=268) [READ THE STORY](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Flove-money%2Fsigns-of-happy-marriage-that-lasts%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/4/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/AbG3p-FSx8RzhZCPa2G2ArTPTjY=268) Q & A %2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Fplay%2Fgiovanni-ribisi-joe-columbo-mob-boss-the-godfather-the-offer-interview-avatar%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/z3GOcIzBkdZHltxI7k3QIK5wX60=268 [Giovanni Ribisi on ‘The Offer’ He Couldn’t Refuse, Plus His Future in ‘Avatar’](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Fplay%2Fgiovanni-ribisi-joe-columbo-mob-boss-the-godfather-the-offer-interview-avatar%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/2/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/PAvWWmVxS0LVyQUSyDz3p0u6yvM=268) The actor and father of three fills us in on playing a [real-life mob boss and heading back to the planet Pandora.](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Fplay%2Fgiovanni-ribisi-joe-columbo-mob-boss-the-godfather-the-offer-interview-avatar%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/3/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/-4WbRQZgIb2JEQAiyeqvdZoaecI=268) [READ THE STORY](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Fplay%2Fgiovanni-ribisi-joe-columbo-mob-boss-the-godfather-the-offer-interview-avatar%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/4/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/C9WZdEtytT5e_pIwWysO-Yx1JNw=268) NOSTALGIA %2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Fplay%2Fvinyl-nation-documentary-interview-streaming-valuable-records%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/1/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/3rHqxFSsv6pl6sMVmRgxD27uk1A=268 [The Vinyl Record Comeback Isn’t What You Think](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Fplay%2Fvinyl-nation-documentary-interview-streaming-valuable-records%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/2/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/XtVqbLqtludeibX7IqCnY8gGyco=268) The 'Vinyl Nation' documentary digs into the [hows and whys of the wax resurgence.](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Fplay%2Fvinyl-nation-documentary-interview-streaming-valuable-records%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/3/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/8zOBRpwJtT84ATOrGs7f4klFRbg=268) [READ THE STORY](%2F%2Fwww.fatherly.com%2Fplay%2Fvinyl-nation-documentary-interview-streaming-valuable-records%2F%3Futm_campaign=28194%26utm_medium=fatherlyDaily%26utm_source=newsletter%26utm_session=c37e7b32-5b18-4c2b-a3ac-adb88aa64d4e/4/0100018081223b84-345261d0-475f-4ecb-8284-dd714f019e0d-000000/JKk0oLNkiABUKNSD_A_fWR57IIg=268) You're receiving this email because you signed up to receive communications from BDG Media. 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