How To Grow Old Together In Later Life
Last Updated on: 3rd February 2024, 11:14 am
Attention And Care For Your Partner – Grow Old Together
Many people want to grow old together with their partners. The key to happiness in old age is simple: attention and care for each other.
Happy Couples Can Grow Old Together
I want to grow old with you! A sentence that is probably the greatest compliment that can be given to the partner. But why does love only last a few years for some and a lifetime for others? Researchers found that almost 65 per cent of all marriages fail because a man or woman no longer cares about their partner. The most important magic words are, therefore, attention and care.
Attention, Affection, And Small Gestures Instead Of Expensive Gifts
This does not mean big gestures like expensive gifts or trips, but small signs of love. It starts with always listening to the other person and showing them that you love them. It also means thanking your partner more often. Especially for things that seem to be taken for granted, such as taking out rubbish or washing dishes.
Small tokens of love can work wonders
Praise is also the glue for a relationship. According to a US study, the happiest couples are those with a five-to-one ratio between praise and criticism. And if it has to be criticism, please do not be emotional and blanket, but only refer to a specific matter! That’s exactly what many do wrong. And so get into a grumbling spiral that quickly makes love stale.
Speaking of which: A remedy against the grey veil of everyday life that at some point covers every relationship is also small gestures. Gestures such as a spontaneous token of love on a post-it, for example, “How good that you …” or “I appreciate you very much …”. Communication is essential in your love life. Those who talk a lot with each other know how the other is doing, what they are missing, and what they want. But they can surprise them again and again, for example, with an invitation to the theatre.
In a long partnership, in particular, it is also important to talk more often about what you have achieved and which crises you have overcome – that welds you together. And then there’s another secret of happiness: cuddling a lot! Upon skin contact, the hormone oxytocin is released, which ensures that we feel more connected to our partner.
What we can learn from older couples
Older couples who have been married for decades often have similar advice. Anyone who asks the married couple about their marriage secrets at a golden wedding is likely to hear that couples should never go to bed in an argument. It is better to clarify conflicts beforehand and get along with the good night kiss at the latest. Many couples who are still happy with one another in old age also recommend a partner who complements them. And of course, both partners have to be willing to compromise. After all, every person is unique and brings a few quirks into the relationship. Acceptance is important here.
