Marriage tips for the masses : Your spouse is still a person.

I just listened to the best podcast ever -- it was a Ted Talk recap about love. How we love, why we love, the science behind it. FASCINATING. Anyways, one of the interviews was with this sex and relationship therapist who I think was French. Or something. I don't know. She was no-nonsense + cut the fat when it came to marriage.

She talked about how America is the only country where people constantly refer to their spouse as their 'best friend.' She said in other countries, your spouse is your spouse and you have your best friends on the side. What she was trying to say is something I've said before, your spouse can't be everything.

She went on to talk about the expectations we have made for marriage -- the person must be our best friend and they must be strong and supportive but also fun-loving and spontaneous. They must consistently make you feel comfortable and safe in your marriage while still being passionate and edgy. It's impossible to be all the things but often times, that expectation is there.

She also talked about how, at the end of the day, your spouse is a person. You should treat them accordingly and, if they truly are your best friend, treat them like it. She said she has seen people treat their spouse in a way which they would never treat their friend. And they expect things they would never expect from any other person.