· You need to know to travel all you can while you're young. When you're older, there will be kids, financial pressure, and let's face it, a lingering desire to catch up on your sleep.
· You need to know that a simple stroll in the park can be romantic. Especially if you leave your cell phones at home.
· You need to know that regular family mealtime is important. Guard it.
· You need to know the other person will always love your compliments.
· You need to know to show respect at all times. Even if you're furious with each other. Respect keeps fights from escalating.
· You need to know how to make each other feel adored.
· You need to know everybody has a past. Be gentle with it.
· You need to know your actions say as much about your feelings as your words do. But it's still important to say the words.
· You need to know married couples find life less stressful than unmarried couples who live together.
· You need to know a person won't change just because you marry them. If she's a gambler before you get married, she'll be a gambler after you get married. Only now she has your money to cover her losses.
· You need to know one of you must manage the money. Someone must pay the bills, keep the family on budget, and be the bad guy when tough decisions need to be made. And the other needs to respect those decisions.
· You need to know happy couples laugh together a lot. If you don't have a sense of humor, seriously consider developing one.
· You need to know there are some things she might not give up, even for the sake of the marriage. Like sleeping with the heat on in the summer.
· You need to know what couples fight about: money, sex, how many children to have, where to worship, even if to worship, and what to eat.
· You need to know to celebrate each other's successes, no matter how small. You'll be amazed at how successful each of you becomes.
· You need to know if you first graduate from college, then marry, then have children, the odds of your marriage succeeding are good.
· You need to know that saying "I do" means you get to grow old with your best friend.
· You need to know to say, "I love you" three or four times a day even when what you really want to say is, "Why is this Credit Card bill so high?"
· You need to know to make major decisions together. Don't buy a car or lease an apartment as a surprise. It will be.
· You need to know the other person has to get their way some of the time. It will feel like most of the time. They're thinking the same thing.
