On December 17th, my wife and I celebrated seven years of marriage. Seven years of laughter, growth, challenges, and love. And while anniversaries often come with flowers or a special dinner, this year I wanted to gift something a bit different—something rooted in wisdom, something timeless. As I brainstormed, I kept circling back to one inescapable truth: Time. Not just the years we’ve spent together, but how quickly that time seems to move—especially since our son was born in May 2022. The last 18 months have passed in a blink. As the old saying goes, “The days are long, but the years are short.” That realization inspired me to do something unique: tap into the deepest well of wisdom we have—those who’ve been where we are now, and kept going for decades. So I asked couples who have been married 40, 50, even 66 years: "If you could give your younger self relationship advice, what would it be?" The answers were candid, beautiful, funny, and often profound. Collectively, they represent over 500 years of shared love, effort, and lessons. Here are the 27 pieces of relationship advice every couple—new or seasoned—should know: 1. Say “I love you” every night before bed. Someday the other side of the bed will be empty. Never take that presence for granted. 2. Don’t keep score. Love isn’t a competition. Scoreboards belong in sports, not marriage. 3. Laugh until you cry. Shared laughter softens hard moments. It's a glue stronger than we realize. 4. Never stop dating. “I’m 99 and still courting my wife,” said one man. The thrill doesn’t fade—you just have to keep showing up. 5. Do quiet acts of service. Take out the trash. Refill the soap. Don’t announce it. Just love in small, invisible ways. 6. Have hard conversations early. Time doesn’t heal relationship wounds. Action does. 7. Don’t fear sadness. It often sits right next to love. The risk of loss is the price of deep connection. 8. Arguments never lead to happiness. You don’t win against each other. You win together. 9. It won’t always be 50/50. Sometimes it’s 90/10. That’s okay—as long as you take turns carrying each other. 10. Maintain your individuality. Marriage should nurture who you are, not erase it. 11. When in doubt, love. Not sure what to do? Choose love. 12. Fix small issues early. They rarely stay small. Most recurring arguments stem from unresolved foundational cracks. 13. Don’t raise your voice. Nothing good ever came from shouting. Choose calm. 14. Relationships are always under construction. Improvement is the heartbeat of lasting love. 15. Care for yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Know your needs, and help each other meet them. 16. Ask yourself: Do I want to be right, or married? Pride ruins more love stories than anything else. 17. Apologize quickly. Can’t say sorry? Go for a walk. Breathe. Then say it. 18. Let the small stuff go. If it won’t matter in a month, don’t let it ruin today. 19. Start every day with a hug or kiss. Simple, small rituals keep the fire alive. (Bonus from 90-year-old Carl: “Start every day with a kiss—and more.”) 20. Build a family with values. You’re creating ripples that will reach generations. 21. Prioritize your marriage over your birth family. Your partner comes first. Always. 22. Never involve outsiders in your fights. You’ll move on, but they won’t. Keep it between you two—or with a professional. 23. Keep doing the little things. A handwritten note, a surprise kiss, a late-night snack. Romance is in the details. 24. Love is a muscle. It will be tested. But each trial, if faced together, makes it stronger. 25. Compatibility is good. Complementarity is better. Let each person lead in their strengths. It's not about being the same—it's about being better together. 26. Your love is yours. Forget the world’s opinions. You only need each other’s. 27. Perfect? No. Wonderful? Yes. There’s no such thing as a perfect relationship. But there are thousands of beautifully imperfect ones. A Final Reflection Time, once again, taught me the most valuable lesson of all: Love isn’t built in the grand moments. It’s built in the ordinary ones—quiet, consistent, imperfect, but deeply intentional. So here’s to the next 500 years of wisdom yet to be lived—and to making every day, and every year, coun