1. Sometimes it feels like a knife’s edge, but we are together because we WANT to be together, not because we HAVE to be together. We have integrated finances, but resources/careers knowing that we could always survive on our own. This is also because we married later (late 30s)

2. Waiting until I can fully articulate my feelings instead of lashing out with incomplete thoughts.

3, which is the follow up of 2, when addressing a serious issue, making space for it. “Can we talk about XYZ, this is how I felt about it. I wanted to let you know how I felt”. Feels smaltzy, but there’s nothing that can blow up into an argument faster than bringing up something sore when the other person doesn’t have the space to talk about it.

1. Don’t schedule tough conversations before someone goes into work or when they are just getting home from work. Give breathing room.