𝐀 𝟒𝟐-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

Join us as we celebrate and share the wisdom of experiences gained from 42 years of marriage. For a content and joyful relationship, my wife Lakshmi and I provide ideas and guidance.

Today, June 18, 2025, Wednesday, began like any other day with my routine morning walk. As I strolled through the familiar paths in our gated community, I came across an elderly gentleman in his 80s, whom I've grown accustomed to greeting daily. Our exchange of "Jai Sreeram" and "Namaskaram" has become a pleasant ritual. But I felt driven today to spend a unique moment with him. "Sir, today marks my 42nd wedding anniversary," I said with a smile. His warm response: "Oh, great!" "My best wishes, and may God bless you," filled my heart with joy and gratitude. It was a beautiful blessing to start the day.

By chance, I soon received the first greetings message from another well-wisher, a priest from the Hanuman temple in our gated community, who was celebrating his 70th birthday. His warm greetings and kind words, along with a special pooja in our favor at the temple, added to the celebratory atmosphere. It occurred to me that today was indeed a celebration day to cherish milestones and reflect on the journey of life.

Commitment and Conscious Care

Thinking back on our 42 years of marriage, I'm reminded of the importance of commitment and conscious care in our relationship. Strong relationships necessitate consistent effort and intention, akin to a garden that requires regular nurturing. We've prioritized our relationship, making time for each other, and supporting each other's growth.

Tip #1: Schedule regular "couple time" for meaningful conversations and shared activities. For at least thirty minutes following our morning walk, for instance, we enjoy having green tea and then sharing our ideas and experiences with one another.

The Value of New Experiences

It turns out that we need new experiences to maintain the passion in our relationship. We have made it a point to create fresh memories together, whether it is for travel, picking up new interests, or sightseeing in new locations.

Tip #2: Plan a surprise trip or a fun activity together. To discover new pilgrimage sites, which usually starts interesting discussions and ideas, we enjoy reading newspapers or watching TV.

Strengthening the Social Fabric

We now understand the need to keep in touch with loved ones and create a strong social network. Whether it's through phone calls, visits, or events, we've made it a point to nurture our relationships with family and friends.

Tip #3: Plan frequent visits to loved ones. Recently, we went to my sister's house, had a wonderful afternoon over tea and snacks with my brother-in-law, and then paid a visit to a professional colleague housed in the same building. These visits help us to deepen our relationships and provide fresh subjects for conversation.

Emotional Support

Every relationship needs emotional support. We now know to actively listen, provide non-judging support, and be here for one another in trying circumstances.

Tip #4: Work on empathy and understanding in your marriage. I feel grateful when my wife, Lakshmi, shares her daily discussions with friends at the 'Ratcha Banda' (ladies' gathering spot) and listens to their concerns; as a result, I appreciate the emotional support and understanding she provides.

Building a Shared Vision

We've discovered that having a shared vision for our future has helped us stay connected and motivated. Whether it is handling money, organizing post-retirement activities, or pursuing shared goals, we have developed to cooperate toward a common good.

Tip #5: Talk about your long-term objectives and cooperate to produce a common future vision. We make sure we are on the same page by routinely talking about and deciding on expenses, bill payments, and financial management.

As we celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary, we're grateful for the journey we've shared so far. We hope these reflections and tips have been a blessing to you, and we look forward to many more years of love, growth, and adventure together.