A special edition of the blog today, co-written with my lovely wife Trish.

It is hard to believe so much time has passed, but today is our 19th wedding anniversary. Together for more than seven years before we got married, we have been a couple for more than half our lives.

What has helped us manage the ups and downs? Communication, adaptability and a sense of humor.

Communication

It hasn’t always been easy, but we have been radically honest from the start. When someone is completely open and honest, you sometimes hear things that are upsetting. On the other end of the spectrum, ignorance is bliss, but is probably not sustainable.

Adaptability

When we first met, Trish was a college student and I was a security guard. Since then, we have each worn many different hats, explored various career opportunities, enjoyed a variety of hobbies and lived in several locations, including a 7-year stint abroad in London.

At one time or another, one of us has taken time off from work to finish school, transition to other careers or support the other person’s desire to move to a new location. We have explored the world together and have welcomed three different rescue Huskies into our lives.

You can either grow apart or grow together. Throughout all the changes in our lives over the years, we have always supported each other.

Humor

We sometimes joke that we should have our own sitcom or create our own t-shirt company. We’re always making each other laugh with ridiculous sayings or by finding silliness in daily happenings. Life isn’t always easy, but when the going gets tough or one of us is having a bad day, we often use humor to lighten the mood. Although our quirky relationship might not be for everyone, it works for us.

What are your keys to success for a long, happy relationship?