Let's Stay Together

The secret to longevity: Treat her like a queen—and she will treat you like a king!

- Dr. Willie Jolley

WHEN TWO PEOPLE GET MARRIED, they both want the union to work. But are they willing to work on it? Statistics say 50 percent of marriages in America end in divorce. And of the couples who remain together, more than 40 percent are miserable.

My wife, Dee Taylor-Jolley, and I could have been among the negative statistics. But thanks to advice from our happily married mentors, we have been married for 33 years and have not had an argument in over 30 years! We are often asked, “You have never had an argument?” I reply, “That is not what I said . . . we have not had an argument in over 30 years, but those first few years were like World War III!” And in one argument, we almost broke up while disagreeing about how much Chinese food to buy. Because of what we learned from those mentors, we have been able to go from arguing to loving. We have now shared our mentors’ tips in a book called Make Love, Make Money, Make It Last! 10 Secrets to Shape a Great Marriage!

Here are five of the tips that can help you create a great marriage: