Sink or Swim

I know it’s not heart’s day but, it’s almost June. The month of June is named after the Roman Goddess, Juno - guardian goddess of marriage life, the wife of Jupiter. There is this legend that when you get married in June, you will have a married life blessed with happiness, thus coining the term, “June bride.”

Legend or not, why not make relationships work, any month of the year? Here are some easy and doable tasks to make it work.

1. Create an everyday ritual – When my girlfriend and I just started out, we often see each other at lunch time only. This way, we really made each moment special and before we part ways, I give her a kiss. This has become an after lunch ritual to us. You can do this in the morning before going out, arriving home at night or maybe, just like the 3-o-clock prayer habit.

2. Male chivalry is not yet dead – We all know that there are only two reasons why guys open the cars door for their girls. One, the car is new. Two, the girl is new. If you haven’t been doing this, try it out! Open the door for her, pull her chair (but warn her, because this is not a prank!) and last but not the least, also consider her opinions. It is not good to only rely on yourself and reject your partner’s decisions.

3. Call your partner on their weird bull crap names! - There is just some clumsy stuff that happens accidentally. I remember my first time in my girlfriend’s house. I dropped the saucer on my drink and broke it. I guess they can compare me to Archie Andrews. If a similar thing happened, call your partner, “clumsy oaf” but do it in a nice way. That way, both of you will just laugh it off and prevent awkwardness.

4. Do not be your partners everything – Vice versa. This will suck out all the romance if you just concentrate on your relationship. Do things together but also, get a life. Watch the game with your buddies, go out fishing with your father in law, and worship together with the entire clan. These sort of small activities have a lasting effect and won’t make you both the center of each other’s world.

5. Surprise, surprise and more surprises! – This is actually a make-your-partner’s-day-task. Who doesn’t want surprises? Of course, I meant it in a good way. I didn’t mean that, you tell your wife after your wedding day that you have two son’s with different mothers! Surprise them on your anniversaries, birthdays, or any special occasions. Better, make your surprise a day before or after. This way, it would really be a surprise!

6. Learn to stand down – We are not in the army wherein there is no retreat. This is the major cause of marriage divorces. Both the husband and the wife want to win. Something like, “Women get the last word in every argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.” We know that guy’s egos’ are high. We must learn to swallow our pride. It will make your life so much better at the end.

7.Reminisce and recreate – Nothing beats recreating your firsts; the first date, first honeymoon, first kiss and all other firsts. This will make both of you remember the good memories you had and will inspire you to create more firsts in the coming times. First impressions do last and when recreated, the magic will be created if not like the first time, it might be better.

Whether you are going to be a June bride or a [Insert Month Here] bride, always remember to put God first in whatever you do. This is one sure-fire way to a healthy loving relationship.