Tougher Than Nails

What really makes a marriage work.

What one quality would you say is needed to make a relationship/marriage successful? When I was way younger I used to think that love was all that was needed.

24 years later I think I’ve learned that love is important but honestly it’s probably not even top 3. What I’ve discovered is that the number one quality that is needed to make a marriage successful is toughness.

Yes. I said it. Toughness.

The truth is marriage isn’t as hard as it seems. Let me explain. People talk about how challenging marriage can be but the reality is life is hard. Marriage is just one of the many things that life tends to be hard on. So when life gets hard for two people who say they want to be together, then what is needed is toughness.

When two people who are tough choose each other, life can’t lean on them hard enough to make them leave each other. I believe this with all my heart.

So let me say this. I’ve never met anyone tougher than my wife @dr.i.hardwick She is one tough cookie and when life has been hard on us she doesn’t fold. She doesn’t flinch. She doesn’t let life push her or our marriage around. Not even the threat of me receiving an unfavorable cancer diagnosis made her flinch. Life has been tough on us but we’ve lasted because together we are tougher.

Happy 24th anniversary to my wife who is both loving and tougher than nails. I love you! Here’s to 24 more years together!