“A good relationship should make you want more from yourself.” Tomorrow, December 29th, 2017 is my 10 year wedding anniversary with my husband, Gerald. As a result I wanted to record a special podcast with him focusing on one of the most important pillars - relationships. Making a marriage work is no easy task. There is no such thing as a perfect relationship, and it certainly isn’t all sunshine and roses. Believe me. Like anything in life, relationships take work. You and your spouse are two different people, and you will never find someone that is exactly like you. Plus, if you did, how boring would that be? There’d be no surprises, you’d both have the same flaws and end up hurting each other more than helping. A good relationship should have balance. You should be supportive of each other, and most importantly your spouse should inspire you to be better in every aspect of life. My husband and I have been through it all. We went from highs, to lows, and back up again. Even when we’ve been frustrated, and felt like throwing in the towel, we knew we had to honor each other. We had to put in the effort to overcome our obstacles, apologize even when we didn’t want to, and make the time to grow together. On this episode of Redefining Wealth, the Washingtons team up to give you 10 lessons we’ve learned from ten years of marriage. Download this episode today to learn what it really takes to have a lasting, happy relationship. “Marriage takes work, it’s not all sunshine and roses.” 10 Lessons from 10 Years of Marriage 10. Friendship is the foundation 9. Laughter is mandatory 8. Embrace the journey 7. Date night is imperative 6. Date her consistently 5. Kids come second 4. Commitment is a daily choice 3. Remind her that she is beautiful 2. Forgiveness is giving up the possibility of a better past 1. Accept your differences. The Cliff Notes: What good is it to chase money or career success when your relationship is in shambles? You don’t always have to be serious. There will always be lessons that come from the ups and the downs. Make it a point to get out and just enjoy each other's company. Don’t be afraid to switch date nights - and be intentional about it. Parents: You’ll have a better chance at finding a babysitter on Tuesday or Wednesdays, not a Friday or Saturday. Children are a byproduct of your relationship, so they should come second. There’s a lot of time when you don’t feel like doing things, but to honor the union you need to do it anyway. It’s easy to replay what someone did to hurt you, but you need to let it go. There’s no point in wishing things happened differently - the past is what it is. “Remind your partner not just of their outside beauty, but also of their inner beauty.”