27 Brutally Honest Lessons People Learned In Their First Year Of Marriage

20.

“Having an open marriage can be a lot of fun. It also baffles a lot of people. Some folks actually get angry because you’re okay with other people touching or having sex with your spouse, but they never actually have a reason for that outside of, ‘It doesn’t match MY beliefs, so you’re wrong!’ We’ve been married for six years, together for nine. We’re still open, still having a blast.”

“You don’t own your partner’s body, and while you can and should communicate your boundaries and preferences, you can’t decide for them. You can, very easily, inform their decisions by letting them know what you want and need in your relationship. Tell your partner honestly, early on, how much importance you place on sex.

For most people, having a private, unique connection in the bedroom is critical. For others, sex is mostly recreational (or pleasure is more a demand of their body than a necessity of the relationship), so other factors like quality time and how you treat each other are the make-or-break aspect. Talking this out and making sure that you’re compatible on these points is mandatory, and must be done well before marriage.”

—CuriousRelish