As a feminist, I’m an unlikely huge fan of yours. I married at the age of 47, and even though I was not yet a listener of yours, I did have the sense not to “shack up” with him before marriage. We dated for two years and went to pre-marital counseling, so I guess I was a supporter of yours without knowing it!
After several years of marriage, I started feeling like a “nag,” and felt like I wasn’t being appreciated and I could feel the resentment building between us. That’s when I found you, and I picked up on three rules for a good marriage: 1) Watch and compliment, 2) Tell him what a good husband and decent man he is, and 3) Remember that sex makes him feel loved.
None of those was in my repertory at the time, but I decided to do them anyway. Once I did, I was blown away by his appreciation and love. I don’t think I was a terrible wife, but I WAS a mediocre one, with much to lose if I did not wake up. Since then, our marriage has greatly deepened, and we’re having much more fun. Like you predicted, the nicer and more appreciative I was, the better everything else became.
Deb
3 Rules for a Good Marriage