For most of us a quick scroll through Twitter means catching up oncutting-edge news or sharing your views on trending topics.
The last thing any of us would expect to find is a lengthythread of meaningful marriage advice - but that was exactly what happened whena tweetfrom writer Jenna Baker garnered almost 10 000 likes.
Happily married folks from around the world took to Twitterto share their tips after Baker asked for submissions in a post marking her ownfirst anniversary.
"I made it," the Texas native wrote. "One year of marriagetoday and it's been a fantastic ride. What's your best relationship advice?"
The tweet quickly racked up more than 2 000 repliesfrom Tweeps keen to share the quirky or heartfelt practices that have kept themand their spouses together over the years.
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An author who writes under the pseudonym EH Night explainedthat sometimes it can be helpful to ignore the accepted wisdom and go to bedangry.
"Go to bed angry," the Connecticut-based writer wrote. "It'sthe opposite of what many people say, but there's not always a solution toevery argument. With those situations, continuing to push an issue can lead tobigger problems and harsher words. Some things can't be agreed upon. Sleepingcan calm the emotions."
Another, who's been married for 49 years, cautionedthat if you do go to bed angry, you should always do so while "touching feet"to create a level of connection, despite your emotional divide.
Other users opted to provide practical solutions for thosesmall, everyday disagreements.
"Don't fight over small things," advisedJenn, an activist based in Utah in the US. "[If] he squeezes the tube oftoothpaste wrong, just get two separate tubes of toothpaste and hide yours."
Angela Spang, a UK-based entrepreneur, readily admitted thatshe's "never met two people who agree on the time or state of home when it'stidy up time".
Her solution? "Get a cleaner. [It's] cheaper than counselling,"she wrote.
Many emphasised the importance of operating as a team,rather than two individuals.
"My best advice is that the moment you commit, you're nolonger an individual, you are a team," advisedUS-based writer Jim Kiernan. "If you don't have that mindset, then startfinding it. It's a great feeling when you know you're not in this crazy thingcalled life by yourself."
Others advised Baker to accept the inevitability of constantchange.
"Never, ever, stop working on the relationship. It's neverstagnant. It's always evolving. It will never be what it was yesterday. It willalways be growing, blossoming," discloseda Twitter user who goes by name Captain Tono and has almost 40 years of weddedbliss under the belt
Another highlighted how love means something different toeach of us.
"Understand love looks different to all," the user wrote."My advice is to never measure or judge your partner's displays oflove/reactions/answers by what you would do in the same situation."
Others, like a retired teacher called Connie, pointed outhow people often treat their friends better than they do their spouses.
"My advice is to always treat your spouse as you would yourbest friend - with respect, empathy, kindness, and consideration," she wrote."Laugh with them, cry with them, and don't disparage them to your friends.Treat them as you would want to be treated."
A fellow writer by the name of VG Anderson urgedBaker and her spouse to take things one day at a time.
"Never gauge your success (or failure) as a couple by asingle good (or bad) day. Gauge it by the good years and bad years, and allduring the bad years stay focused on how to get back to a good year."
Whether it was profound or lighthearted, Baker was gratefulfor the overwhelming response to her post, replying to almost all the tweetsand tellingVG Anderson: "This is great advice!"
Source: twitter.com
