The secret to a happy marriage? Small acts of kindness

In the Globe&Mail, Sarah Hampson writes:

“The secret to marital happiness is as simple as making your spouse tea in the morning. Turning down his side of the bed. Giving her a back rub.

The generous marriage has a much greater chance of being a happy one.

That’s the finding of a recent study by the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project, examining the role of generosity in marriages. Defined as “the virtue of giving good things to one’s spouse freely and abundantly,”

Giving without expecting something back I define as unselfishness.  I also love the idea that giving to your spouse does not have to be some kind of a gift purchased with your credit card.   How simple is a selfless act of kindness?   Kindness is defined as “a kind, considerate, or helpful act.”  And generous can be defined as “liberal in giving or sharing.”

I can say from experience that being considerate and generous to your spouse makes a very healthy marriage.

How about improving the health of our relationship with others?

picture by shodan

I like to think of expanding this idea to acts of kindness and generosity to those people I interact with every day.  I find a smile, a ‘thank you’ and just taking the time to acknowledge that individual – be it a clerk in a store, or the security guard you pass every day – and show that you appreciate them is a way to be considerate and generous.

These are small acts of kindness or consideration that cost nothing, except perhaps my conscious effort to bestow.  How they are received or perceived by that individual may be priceless!