No yelling. No finger pointing. No making assumptions. Whether you're having an argument or just making conversation, be respectful to your spouse. Be as clear as you can when you

communicate, and most importantly, be a good listener.

Between work, friends, family and kids, it can be hard to find time to spend with your spouse. But DO IT. Even if you just spend 30 minutes a day

talking to each other, some time is better than no time. Small gestures like a text message or a Facebook post are easy ways to stay in touch throughout

the day.

You know why "two become one" when you get married? Because you and your spouse are a team. A partnership. And while it's important that you each maintain your own

identities, keep your beloved in mind when making decisions. Marriage is about compromise, so work together and you'll be able to meet in the middle.

When an argument with your spouse is over, it's OVER. Don't re-hash issues that you've moved on from. Look to the future and focus on the present. You can't change

what's been done, and it doesn't benefit your marriage in any way to bring up the past.

You don't have to make some grand gesture every time you want to show your spouse some love. Small tokens of gratitude go a long way. Scribble a little note

on a Post-It and stick it on the bathroom mirror for your spouse to see. Offer to give your spouse a foot or shoulder massage after a long day at

work. Good things come in small packages, and love is no exception.

Unless you marry someone who is not human, your spouse is going to disappoint you. He will hurt you. He will make you angry. And you'll have your flaws too.

The important thing is to recognize that you're both in need of grace because neither one of you is perfect. 

Sex is important in marriage, no doubt. But building intimacy is more than just having sex. Kissing is actually far more intimate, and is an important way to demonstrate your

love in a physical way. When you leave for work, when you go to bed, kiss your better half as much as you can!

In marriage, it's crucial that you have an honest dialogue with yourself. If there are problems in your relationship that need to be addressed, don't hesitate to bring them up.

If you let them fester, or try to ignore them, eventually you'll blow up or the situation will get more serious. 

It's better to give than to receive. This is especially true in marriage. And you know what? It's damn hard to do sometimes. But if you truly love your spouse,

and you want your marriage to survive, you've got to give your spouse more than you give yourself. You'll find that the reward is reciprocal giving, which will in turn

benefit you as well.

Be grateful. Be appreciative. Be happy. It's easy to become overwhelmed with the responsibilities that come with being a married adult. But life's too short to stress out. You're so

lucky to have found someone to share your life with, so live each day smiling and things will turn out just fine.