Proud, happy, and full of joy as my wife & I celebrated our 25th anniversary this April 21st, 2026. What a journey it’s been. We are blessed with 3 amazing kids, Claire, Matthew, & Tess, and our dog Ruby. We took a quick trip to Belgium & the Netherlands to celebrate and spent some time sightseeing. On the flight, I thought about us–our journey and our time together. We are still trying to understand one another, support each other, and enjoy our time together.
Here are a few thoughts and strategies that work for us. It is not, and has never been, perfect. Yet, in an authentic way, it is perfect. Like the famous poet Billy Joel says, “I love you just the way you are…”
1. Be patient
2. Be forgiving.
3. Assume the good.
4. Look at the big picture.
5. There’s always another way.
6. Seek to understand before being understood.
7. Listen!
8. Listen some more.
9. Watch successful couples, and learn what they do.
10. Take vacations.
11. Let her pick the movie.
12. Do adrenaline-producing activities together–her interests and his interests…Share.
13. Write down your goals and then put them on the calendar.
14. Invest in experiences, not things.
15. Have calendar meetings.
16. Cook together.
17. Try to have as many meals together as you can.
18. Clean up your stuff.
19. Leave love notes for each other.
20. Be gentle
21. Let them be their own person.
22. Don’t try to ‘fix’ anybody.
23. Find reasons and ways to laugh together.
24. You don’t just marry the person; you marry the family.
25. Life is short! Do that thing, book that trip, read that book, do that project on the house you’ve always wanted to do. It’s the things that you don’t do that you regret.
Keep surviving & thriving, friends. Thank you to my beautiful, kind, dedicated wife Jenn- for all her support. She is the glue to our family, the Judge, the Captain, and the heart of it all. Much love & respect!
