Marriage and relationships can sometimes be considered the human Rubik?s cube.
Like adding up without a calculator or being punctual, enduring romance is not a strength of mine, however one specific exchange between myself and my first boyfriend still haunts me.
We had been going out for a number of months before the rose-coloured glasses broke due to a series of stressful Year 11 accounting exams and a student election campaign where my desire to become House Captain for an upcoming athletics carnival was greater than the desire to hold his hand.
Our relationship came to an end as I lamented that it was ?too much work?.
?All relationships are work, they?re like cars they run automatically but they need attention and regular maintenance,? came the reply on my Nokia 8210.
It wasn?t until I actually grew up and filled out a trainer bra that it dawned on me ? I had broken up with the Dalai Lama (who was moonlighting as an apprentice mechanic).
Fast forward 12 years and his scripture is still with me.
Over recent months, relationships, especially ones that looked set to go the distance, have crumbled.
First Kim and Kris, then Demi and Ashton, followed by Heidi and Seal and more recently closer to home, Perth social darlings Bree Maddox and Malcolm Day?s 11-year union came to an abrupt end.
These breakdowns are making me and my (somewhat melodramatic) friends nervous with questions like, ?If they can?t make it, what hope do the rest of us have?? being tabled during our chin wags/Revenge recaps/Please Marry My Boy bitch sessions on a regular basis.
But it?s here I realised, it is time to stop watching The Real Housewives and take cues from real housewives.
Just last week, six of my friends ran 1000 kilometres from Nannup through the South-West to Manjimup to raise funds and awareness for rural men?s health.
An admirable feat but what struck me most about the Mates 500 Relay was the fact that six blokes who were pounding the pavement (at 11 kilometres an hour) were joined by their wives and girlfriends for the five day journey.
Michelle Lyster supported her husband Tim during the 1000 kilometre Mates 500 relay last week.
With 15 kids between them and careers of their own, these six ladies dropped what they were doing to stand by their men.
When the runners were feeling the fatigue instead of a Nike inspired iPod playlist and Gatorade they asked for their partners to pull on their Lorna Jane and jog by their side.
Asking for the support of your significant other during a 12 kilometre pre-dawn power walk says more about the connection of a couple and the power of partnership than all the Tiffany Co. in the world if you ask me.
Another woman who plans to keep it real when she weds her Mr Universe, builder-slash-model Jake Wall later this year is Jennifer Hawkins.
Jen cuddles up to Jake before jetting off to Perth last week.
While she has given her opinion on a number of things over the years including fashion, flashing and world peace, how is one of the world?s most beautiful creatures preparing to become the perfect ?missus??
She broke down her four-point plan to me recently:
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?Just be caring, lots of cuddles and be affectionate,
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?Let him have his boys nights when he wants to and don?t be a Nazi,
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?Be a mate as well as a lover, and
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?Learn how to cook! Jake is amazing, he?s a really good cook, so maybe if I could cook him some more dinners that would be ideal as when it?s my turn to cook I?m like ?let?s get take out? and he goes ?yeah!??
Considering she didn?t even realise news helicopters were hovering above her engagement party I think her tips can be easily transferrable to couples who aren?t blessed with her finances and features.
In the real world, my married mates tell me number three seems to be the thing that can either make or break a union and social scientist Garth Sundem agrees.
Back in 2006, Sundem and New York Times science columnist John Tierney published a scientific formula to predict the success or crash of celebrity couples.
According to the study youth, too much fame and a wife?s skimpy attire spell doom.
The research correctly predicted the demise of the Britney Spears-Kevin Federline and Pammy Anderson-Kid Rock unions (did we really need science to tell us that though?) and now suggests moulding a union based on the Prince Wills-K.Midd or Beyonce-Jay-Z marriage model.
Both of these relationships are tipped to last at least 15-years according to the uber-geeks.
Interestingly though the literature surrounding the study didn?t mention the positive or negative factors affecting fraternisation such as communication or which football team the other supports.
Do you think mates should mate? What are your tips to a successful relationship?
Article source: http://www.watoday.com.au/lifestyle/life/blogs/my-jennaration/the-perfect-mrs-20120319-1veei.html?rand=1332112913430
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