The secret.

‘What makes your marriage tick?’ asked a young bunch of cadets to their senior officer, ‘What is the secret of the longevity of your marriage?’

He paused for a while as if trying to focus his attention on something, and then looked at the young bunch with a calm smile, and said, ‘I told my wife in the early years of our marriage, there might be several reasons why you married me. But now that we are together you will get to know me better and get several more reasons to leave me… Leave me, if you will. Now. I won’t utter a word. But it you change your mind after the birth of our children, for every single reason that you might find to hate me, I’ll find a hundred more to love you and hang on to you. I will not let you give up and go after we have children. Then you will be stuck with me for life. Because I’ll not let our children grow and spend time alternatively with two single parents who use them as tools against each other. You have your chance now. After this, I will not let the hatred grow!’

He then paused, ‘that was my excuse to keep my wife hooked. Before you decide to stay on, together, ask yourself at least once – are you together because you care for the institution of the marriage or for each other. Decide on one of the options and then spent rest of your life finding a reason for what you care. I found mine. You find yours. And have an everlasting innings!’