***Does Marriage Improve Your Health?

America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts Over the past decade there have been a number of research articles expounding on the positive virtues of marriage and good health. We have reported on them. And as you know, there are some very strong opinions that accompany the research findings – debates about whether same-sex marriage and relationships count – debates about what constitutes a “marriage” – and debates about “what is true love?” Sometimes, the debates get heated! Trust us, we know! Here is something for you to chew on. Is being happily and successfully married to another human being the key to good health OR is the question merely one of having a happy and successful loving relationship with another person, irrespective of whether you are married? We have thought a lot about this lately. Here’s our take on all this – everybody needs somebody! Everybody needs somebody to love. And the truth is, having someone to love, having someone who loves you, is, after all is said and done, an important ingredient to the secret to good health! As our many readers know, for the past 27 years we have studied successful marriage on six continents of the world. Through our many interviews with traditionally married couples in the Judeo-Christian tradition, we have discovered many truths. We articulated these “truths” in our latest book entitled Building a Love that Lasts: The Seven Surprising Secrets of Successful Marriage. But the simple truth is this – we never, ever, said that there was only one path to success and happiness in a relationship! We sincerely and completely believe that having another person in your life that makes you happy is a good thing. Having someone to love is the secret to Nirvana in life. In all the years we have been doing what we are doing, we are astounded at how many people misinterpret our message about love, marriage, and relationships. The truth is, our message doesn’t exclude anyone when it comes to defining a successful relationship. Our message never disparages anyone. Our message has never, in our three decades of work, ever made a judgment about what constitutes love and marriage. As researchers, we have the right to determine what it is we want to study. Our choice – successful love and marriage around the world of those married in the Judeo-Christian tradition. However, deciding on our life’s work does not exclude the importance of alternative lifestyles – alternative ways of looking at why successful relationships work. It is our profound belief that your health and well-being will be improved, enhanced, and otherwise exalted if you have somebody to love, someone to spend your life with, and someone to be empowered by on a daily basis. In the end does it really matter if you are married in the traditional sense of marriage? Or, in the end, is it more important for your health and well-being if you have somebody to love – somebody who loves you unconditionally and unequivocally? Simple Things Matter in love and marriage. Love well! By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz For more tips to enhance your relationship get the Doctor’s best-selling and multiple-award winning book Building a Love that Lasts: The Seven Surprising Secrets of Successful Marriage (Jossey-Bass/Wiley 2010) Available wherever books are sold. Winner of the INDIE Book Awards GOLD Medal for Best Relationship Book Winner of the 2009 Mom’s Choice Awards GOLD Medal for Most Outstanding Relationships and Marriage Book 2009 Nautilus Book Awards Winner for Relationships