Marriage is much more than a relationship between two people. It requires a lifetime of trust, love, and commitment to turn it into an exciting voyage.

Here is some invaluable counsel for a lifetime of matrimonial bliss!

Be happy about your marriage
Only if you sincerely believe it, will your marriage last forever. Now that you are in a relationship, be happy about it. Accept your spouse the way he is. Do not entertain any thoughts of "ifs" and "buts" in your relationship. Being happy about a relationship makes a couple more attractive to each other.

Leave your past behind
Your parents, your siblings, and your friends do have a life of their own. You cannot please everyone all the time. Your spouse has to be your priority in life for a lasting relationship. If you were in a former relationship, get over it. Do not carry along the emotional baggage. Work towards a fulfilling relationship with your spouse.

Think "WE" and not "I"
Marriage is not just living together, but also about sharing and caring for each other. Respect each other's likes, dislikes, and decisions. Share your fears, hopes, and dreams. Try to reach a solution for any problem together. Many times, one of you may have to compromise, but isn't that the well-known secret of a long-lasting marriage?

Decide your priorities
Each of you has your own space in a marriage, but that does not mean you both continue always doing your own thing. Decide your priorities right away. You cannot continue to work at the office twelve hours a day, then go to the club, and afterwards meet up with your friends every weekday and do justice to a marriage. You need to spend quality time with each other for the companionship and intimacy to grow.

When kids arrive on the scene
Even if your kids take up much of your time, your spouse should be your first priority. Most men start feeling neglected when a baby takes up most of their partner's time. Involve him in the baby care, and tell him how much you value his help. Try to squeeze in some time for each other. Your children will grow up soon and wean themselves from you. Remember, it is you, as a couple, who are going to be with each other for life. Do not get so engrossed in bringing up your children that you and your spouse feel like strangers a few years down the lane!

Do not compare
It is an absolute no-no to compare! The couple next door may seem to be in a fabulous relationship. However, how does it affect your relationship? Work towards making your relationship more fruitful. All that matters is whether you cherish being together.

Face it!
Every relationship has its share of troubles. Face it head on! Be frank with each other, talk it out, and try to resolve the issues. Do not try to avoid or run away from nasty situations.

Love can mature in a relationship
True love is the result of a happy marriage (and not the other way round as you would like to believe!) As you face the challenges and overcome the hurdles in life together, laugh at your blunders and cherish your triumphs. You will realize that your love and respect for each other has grown through the years.

Commitment is the key to a long-lasting relationship
Stand by your spouse through thick and thin, health and sickness, financial disasters, and career lows. Trust each other. A committed relationship can weather such testing times and come out stronger than ever.

Believe in your marriage
Believe that you are in a happy marriage. Marriage, like any other meaningful effort, needs commitment, practice, and patience to make it last. A good marriage is like wine; it tastes better as it grows older!