the three-word marriage
fourteen years ago, she walked into my life, and everything shifted. not dramatically at first—just a quiet certainty that this was different. today, people ask for our "secret" to staying together, still happy, still growing. my wife even nudged me to write about how much i love her. so here it is, simple and true: there isn't one secret. there are three words that anchor us, three practices that keep the fire alive.
first, respect. it sounds obvious, almost cliché, but it's the foundation most overlook. respect isn't grand gestures; it's the daily choice to see her fully—as her own person, with her own strengths, dreams, and fire. early on, we caught the small slights before they grew: a dismissed opinion, an interrupted story. we nipped them, replacing with listening, valuing. respect means honoring boundaries, celebrating wins, even when they're not shared. it's why she isn't my "personal everything," as she once joked. she's whole on her own, and that independence fuels us both.
second, mini-missions. we're always building something together, not out of obligation, but because it binds us. a weekend project, a travel plan, even debating a book over coffee—these aren't chores; they're adventures that remind us we're a team. life pulls couples apart with routines and distractions, but mini-missions create shared purpose. remember that trip to the mountains where we got lost and laughed through it? those moments stack up, turning "us" into something unbreakable. without them, monotony creeps in, and joy fades.
third, fun. if it's not fun, what's the point? we prioritize laughter, play, the spark that made us fall in love. it's dancing in the kitchen, teasing over breakfast, or chasing sunsets just because. fun isn't frivolous; it's the glue that withstands storms. we've faced losses, stresses, the grind of building businesses—but we return to joy. she lights up rooms with her energy, makes me laugh until it hurts, and lets me dive deep into my work without guilt. in return, i cheer her pursuits, her passions that shine independently.
these three—respect, mini-missions, fun—aren't magic spells. they're intentional choices, repeated daily. the best partnerships aren't about one completing the other, like puzzle pieces. they're two whole people, choosing the same direction, supporting without smothering. she supports my mission; i champion hers. that's the real beauty: mutual freedom, shared path.
te amo, mi amor. fourteen years, and i'm still amazed. if you're reading this, chasing your own connection, start small. pick one word today. build from there. relationships thrive not by accident, but by design. yours can too.
