> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ourfamilylifestyle.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Little Things Can Make a Big Difference in Your Marriage - URL: https://www.ourfamilylifestyle.com/little-things-big-difference-in-your-marriage/ - Published: 2019-09-17T14:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-23T07:14:22.000Z - Description: Marriage isn’t easy; even after 25 years, we don’t have it all figured out. But, we have a lot of the kinks worked out. Here are a few little things that can make a big difference in your marriage. - Author: Staci Salazar - Tags: Marriage Last week, after a typical day doing our regular routine, I felt an overwhelming surge of satisfaction. That feeling of peace and joy that everything seemed perfectly right in the world. ![25 years of marriage](https://storage.ghost.io/c/04/b6/04b60537-dad4-499b-b73c-0551021827f5/content/images/2026/01/this-is-45-1.jpg) ## 25 Years Later... Living a life riddled with [anxiety](https://stacisalazar.com/when-anxiety-drives-me/), this doesn’t happen very often. At all. So it took me quite by surprise; and I smiled when I realized why. That night, as Colby and I climbed into bed after saying goodnight to the girls, I told him about my revelation. > “You know I’m not really a jealous person right. I mean, there are things I sometimes see other people have, but I’m not jealous of those things. Just inspired.” For example, although I’m not exactly the cook in the family, I love the look of a large, [open kitchen](https://www.ourfamilylifestyle.com/builder-grade-farmhouse-kitchen-home-depot/) with a farmhouse sink and concrete countertops. Or, I would be thrilled to [own a vehicle](https://www.ourfamilylifestyle.com/2019-subaru-ascent/) that all nine of us could ride in together. (Yes, they’re out there). Sometimes, I just want the success I see in other [small businesses](https://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleLearnersSpot) to happen for us. But, I’m not jealous of those people or things, I simply want to find a way to make it happen for us. I’m a dreamer. A big one at that. Honestly, the list could go on with things I want for our family, but there’s something I don’t seek out in others because I already feel like we’ve achieved it. Back to our conversation; > “But today I realized there’s something I’m pretty content with just as it is. Our marriage.” Y’all, we’re not perfect, but we’ve come such an [incredibly far way](https://stacisalazar.com/how-i-met-your-father/) in our 25 years together. Perhaps it’s because we’ve learned to grow *together* rather than apart. We’ve been through some things and it’s taught us the importance of having each other. We’ve experienced racism and [prejudice from family](https://stacisalazar.com/relationship-goals-in-your-childs-eyes/) members who chose to remove themselves from our lives. From our kids’ lives. We’ve suffered a broken marriage as well as restoration. We’ve suffered the [loss of a child](https://stacisalazar.com/life-of-a-miscarriage/), the [loss of a parent](https://stacisalazar.com/goodnight-mom-love-you/), and the loss of friends. We’ve weathered hard financial times, desperate measures, and close calls. We’ve fought, made up, and fought again. We’ve laughed, cried, yelled, and even sang together. ![raised five incredible children](https://storage.ghost.io/c/04/b6/04b60537-dad4-499b-b73c-0551021827f5/content/images/2026/01/raised-five-incredible-children.jpg) We’ve [raised five incredible children](https://www.ourfamilylifestyle.com/tips-to-encourage-strong-sibling-bonds/) together. And, most recently, we both watched as our first grandchild made her way into this world. ![Riley and her gramps](https://storage.ghost.io/c/04/b6/04b60537-dad4-499b-b73c-0551021827f5/content/images/2026/01/riley-and-her-gramps.jpg) But most of all, we’ve made the decision to do this life together; the best way we know how. [Marriage isn’t easy](https://stacisalazar.com/27-years-of-marriage-hasnt-always-been-easy/). Every day isn’t filled with a bouquet of roses and sweet pillow talk, but it’s worth every minute. We don’t have it all figured out, but we do have a lot of the kinks worked out. ![Little Things Can Make a Big Difference in Your Marriage](https://storage.ghost.io/c/04/b6/04b60537-dad4-499b-b73c-0551021827f5/content/images/2026/01/little-things-can-make-a-big-difference-in-your-marriage.png) In fact, let me share a few **little things we’ve found can make a big difference in your marriage**: **Love is a verb** This is the one piece of advice we’ve retained from our pre-marital counseling, and it’s been a [good reminder](https://ourfamilylifestyle.com/marriage-affirmations/) for us on the hard days. [Love requires a choice](https://ourfamilylifestyle.com/ways-to-romance-your-husband/). It requires action. It requires work. **Put your marriage first** It can be the unpopular opinion, and one I was definitely not raised to believe, but when you [put your spouse first](https://stacisalazar.com/sorry-kids-love-dad-more-than-you/), everything else seems to fall into place. **Compromise** They say opposites attract and it was true for us. We came from different backgrounds and had varying views of a lot of things. Being able to compromise helped [save our marriage](https://ourfamilylifestyle.com/tips-to-strengthen-help-save-your-marriage/) and our sanity. **Fight fair** As I mentioned, we’re not perfect. We still have disagreements sometimes, but we’ve learned to use facts rather than emotions. [To listen](https://ourfamilylifestyle.com/art-of-communicating-with-your-spouse/) and not yell. To be open-minded. **Say no to comparison** In today’s social media world, it can be challenging to not compare yourself to others. Just remember, a picture on Instagram doesn’t tell the whole story. There’s a [bigger picture](https://stacisalazar.com/how-grief-has-changed-me/) behind the one you see online. **Take vacations** This can be two-part: couple getaways and [family vacations](https://www.ourfamilylifestyle.com/beaches-resorts-all-inclusive-turks-caicos/). You need to find time to reconnect; away from the kids. Even if it’s a quick weekend escape. And some of our fondest memories have been made on vacations with the kids. **Be a couple** Not sure how to phrase this one exactly, but you have to know how to *just be a couple*. Eventually, all of the kids will leave the nest and it’ll just be the two of you. Being able to be alone, together, will make all the difference. **Never stop flirting** I’ve mentioned this one before, and I’m repeating it again because it’s one of my favorites. A physical relationship isn’t everything, but we do enjoy the [intimate moments](https://ourfamilylifestyle.com/keeping-romance-alive-after-kids/) that are shared only between the two of us. ## So, here’s to another 25 years. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth fighting for.