Maintenance is boring UNTIL something breaks down. 

These 5 tips are routine maintenance healthy couples follow to stay happy:

1) They tackle problems.

Problems are a reality of life. 

Some come from the inside our marriage relationship and others from the outside.

Doesn’t matter whether they’re internal or external, problems must be dealt with.

Healthy couples stay happy because they tackle problems - they don’t stick their heads in the sand.

2) They understand.

Next time you’re disappointed, upset or frustrated with your spouse, try to understand where they’re coming from.

Do what grown ups do: Start a conversation. 

Think twice before assuming, attacking or accusing.

You might discover it's just a simple misunderstanding. 

How do you keep from having full-blown, in-your-face conflicts? By dealing with simple misunderstandings along the way.

Healthy couples stay happy because they seek to understand each other.

3) They act.

We have a tendency to react to our environments and relationships. 

The challenge is that if this becomes a dominant pattern in our marriage, we can easily create a marital environment where we all we’re doing is reacting to problems. 

It's good to remember that marriage isn’t always about solving problems. 

Marriage is about celebrating life and love, which is a pattern of action that keeps love ignited.

So come up with special dates or surprises for your partner; recreate romantic moments. 

Be active, not reactionary. 

Healthy couples stay happy because they take action to savor life and love. 

4) They express their feelings.

Don’t assume your spouse knows you love them.

Healthy couples stay happy because they demonstrate their love routinely.

5. They make love.

If sexual fulfillment is weak or missing from your marriage, your relationship is unhealthy.  

Granted, there are situations where, due to a medical situation, sexual intimacy might be lacking. 

But generally speaking, a sexless marriage is an unhealthy marriage. 

But before blaming your partner for drop-kicking your relationship into the “friend zone” where you behave more like roommates than lovers,  evaluate your own behavior to see if anything might be throwing cold water on the fires of sexual intimacy. 

Healthy couples stay happy because they enjoy mutually satisfying sex. 

These are a few ways healthy couples stay happy. 

If things aren’t running as smoothly as you would like, then maybe it’s time for a little routine maintenance. 

Until next time, this is Mike & Gayle Tucker and we want YOU to

be mad about marriage!​