Relationships That Lasts

Shannen Fields, whom I admired for playing an ideal wife to a football coach, is also someone to be admired in real life. She has a clear understanding of life, and she knows the most important key to successful relationships: Start with your relationship with God first.

She says: "Balancing my time in order to have my quiet time with God is something that I have to do "on purpose!"

At times I have to say NO to other things. Life is tough no matter what your age is and we have to make a choice to make the time to spend with God or not!"

I think she got this serence, peaceful, loving and cheerful attitude from his practice of putting God first in her life, despite her life as a busy person. This surely inspires me to work on spending my own time with God.

If you have watched Facing the Giants, you will see Shannen Fields, who played the role of Brooke Taylor, the wife of a football coach played by Alex Kendrick - who is on the verge of losing everything in his life, including his job. Plus, the fact that they are having difficulty conceiving a baby that it almost becomes impossible.

I really like her role, cause she resembled an ideal wife. When hes husband comes home disappointed over a problem at work, she doesn't nag or judge her husband. Instead, she listens attentively, lovingly, with full understanding and empathy which gives him comfort and strength to move on. She is a very serene woman and she is so sweet when she speaks. She respects her husband so much and this makes his husband love her more and more. She was one of the reasonw hy his husband became successful in the end.

I am working on becoming such as ideal wife like her. I'm sure every husband would love a non-judgmental, good listener wife. Our husbands needs our love and appreciation specially during their down times. Most of the time when they air a problem to us, we lecture a lot to them and tell them what to do, which makes them feel even worst and they would feel you are bragging even if your intention is not. When they say something, most likely than not, what they want for you to do is to listen attentively and show that you understand and that what they feel are acknowledge.

A good wife is not born to be someone like that. A person doesn't come up in the world and wakes up to be the near perfect partner that she can be to her spouse. To become one, you need to nurture your character, identify your weaknesses and work on them slowly but surely, focus on your strengths and magnify them. You simply need to learn everyday. And as always, experience is always the best teacher. Every choice we make every day determines our future and says a lot about the kind of person that we are.

We cannot claim to love our spouse if we don't give him that respect he deserves to have.
We cannot keep arguing with them, and say that our relationship with them is our priority.
Our actions, simply tells what are intentions are.

Nothing could be more of a badluck than being married to a grumpy, negative, unrespectful and selfish wife. A woman could break or make a man. A wise and positive woman can guide her better half to become a stronger person achieving his fullest potential. While, a negative and critical wife, can fully turn a positive man into someone negative and full of disappointments in life.

There is no such thing as a perfect wife. What is important that we give our best in our relationships, and we try hard to become better each day. As with me, I started out really bad, as I would say, I wasn't really ready to become a partner yet. But, through my determination and commitment to our love, I stayed and I am glad I did. The mother's day letter I received from my husband is just a confirmation that my efforts are paying of.

The Letter

Hon, Happy Mothers day. Ginawa ko ito para masabi ko sayo at malaman mo ang pagka ina mo. Hon, maraming salamat na wala kang katulad na ina, your the best mom. READ MORE.

1. Never assume.
   
   
2. Compliment more than you criticize.
   
   
3. For each time you vent about your husband/wife to your friends, tell three positive stories.
   
   
4. Remember that it is okay to do things differently (e.g. there is more than one way to peel a potato or fold the laundry).
   
   
5. Always make time for the two of you.
   
   
6. Marry someone that you enjoy listening and talking to.
   
   
7. Remember that marriage is sometimes a bed of roses and sometimes there are thorns.
   
   
8. Remember that the best gift that you can give your children is to love their mother/father.
   
   
9. Be fair! Split the housework, spending money, etc evenly. This way you are never resentful of your partners contributions (or lack of) or expenditures.
   
   
10. Never go to bed angry. (Unless it's 3a.m. and you're exhausted, angry, and not thinking straight.)
    
    
11. Remember that people do fight. It's how you do it that matters.
    
    
12. Before starting an argument, consider if it's really worth it.
    
    
13. Fight naked. ;)
    
    
14. Agree to disagree.
    
    
15. Never, ever mention the "D" word (divorce).
    
    
16. Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?
    
    
17. Respect each others' privacy.
    
    
18. Remember that "love is like childhood. You need to learn to share."
    
    
19. Marriage is not 50/50, it's two people giving 100/100 all of the time.
    
    
20. Surprise each other now and then.
    
    
21. The secret to a happy marriage is two TV's!
    
    
22. Have date night!
    
    
23. Never pass up an opportunity to say "I love you".
    
    
24. Hold hands.
    
    
25. Hug & kiss every day (several times a day actually!).
    
    
26. Always believe that you got better than you deserved.
    
    
27. Be quick to say "I'm sorry".
    
    
28. Choose the one you love, then love the one you choose.
    
    
29. Keep the in-laws out of your marriage!
    
    
30. Love isn't always a feeling, it's a decision.
    
    
31. Hang in there. It's worth it.
    
    
32. Play nice, play often, love much.
    
    
33. Never air your dirty laundry as a couple in public.
    
    
34. Never keep secrets from each other.
    
    
35. Be each others' champion. No matter what, take your husband or wife's side first!
    
    
36. Communication is the key!
    
    
37. Always respect each other.
    
    
38. Never underestimate the power of a good belly-laugh and don't be afraid to laugh at yourself.
    
    
39. It's the little things that matter most.
    
    
40. Never use the words 'Always' and 'Never' in a fight.
    
    
41. It's ok to argue, but never use curse words to express your anger.
    
    
42. Never compare your marriage to others. What you see on the outside is not always what it is on the inside.
    
    
43. Don't make love in the same place/position every time. Variety is the spice of life!

I got this list from Roman Stuck, and I think this is an awesome list. I am positive following these tips will bring a positive result in every relationships. I would like to make use of this too in my own relationship.

You heard it right, what I said is true and has just been proven through research and tests. A group of psychologists have discovered that people who smile more in their older photos such as a yearbook, are more likely to have successful marriage later on. They conducted a study, and they found out that among the 10% of the greatest smilers (people who really smiled in a yearbook photo) none had a failure in marriage. While, within the bottom 10 % of the smilers, almost 1 in four had a failed marriage. In another study, conducted to support this theory, they asked photos of 65 year old people in their early or younger years. Those who are smiling and happy in their photos, only had 10% of failed marriage, while 31 % of the frowners had broken relationships.
The general conclusion is that people who frowns and wear sad smiles in photos have five times more likelihood of divorce and broken marriages. Hard to believe? This is the truth, and even the psychologists who conducted the test have a puzzle in explaining, though they also have varied possible explanations.
It could be that those who smile more in photos indicate a happier disposition in life, which makes it easy for marriage and family life. Another is that, happy people attracts the same kind of people, so this combination would have a strong likelihood of setting this marriage and partnership up for success.
So in all of these information, we can really say that how we carry outselves today, and our outlook of life, really has a strong impact on what our life will become in the future. Whatever we do today, will have an effect on what will happen to our lives in the future.

Original Article/Source: Smiles Predict Marriage Success

People are so busy nowadays. Most of us are guilty of taking our loved ones for granted. Yes, it is taken that our loved ones might already know that they are important to us, and that they matter so much. That they are the reason why we are so busy, trying to get a decent life for them. But, we fail to invest our time on spending it with them, thus, we cannot blame them if they doubt our love for us. The way we manage our time, reveals our priorities. And while, the current economy, might create the need for us to always be on the go, and look for ways of creating money to support our families, we should not forget ever to spend our precious time with them. It doesn't matter how short or long it is, per day. As long its regular. And remember, its not quantity but quality that matters most. If you think, you are this person, who have somewhat neglecting your loved ones, specially your life partner or your kids, you better watch the movie of "World Trade Center", a true to life story of 2 policemen who survived the tragedy of the World Trade Center Attack.
It is a heartfelt story. It will make you cry, and make you appreciate the life of your loved one more.

WORLD TRADE CENTER

From the three time Academy Award winner Oliver Stone comes this inspiring story about courage, family and our nation's unyielding spirit. Oscar winner Nicolas Cage and Michael Peña star as John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno, two New York City Port Authority policemen who were trapped n the rubble of September 11, 2001. As McLoughlin and Jimeno bond together in a fight for survival, the events of an unimaginable day unfold through the eyes of the two policemen, their loving wives (Maria Bello and Maggie Gyllenhal), survivors and rescuers throughout the city.