Struggling In a Marriage Or Intimate Relationship?

Suggestions based on thirty-nine years of experience

Clifford Jones
Know Thyself, Heal Thyself
7 min readOct 27, 2024

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A young couple on their wedding day.
Me and Janice on October 26. 1985

Solitary confinement is cruel and unusual punishment. Knowing this, many of us believe it might be better to live alone rather than endure the trials of an intimate relationship.

Even though I’m not a psychologist or an expert on relationships, I’ve learned a few things. First, I don’t think we were born to live alone, even if some of us do. If marriage or staying committed in a long-term intimate relationship were easy, more of us would stick together through thick and thin.

Today, my wife and I celebrate thirty-nine years of marriage. I feel so incredibly blessed that I’m writing this article before Janice wakes up and we spend our special day celebrating the journey together.

If you are struggling with a married or committed, long-term intimate relationship, I hope the following words will give you enough hope to work through your difficulties long enough to find unity.

I will never forget our wedding day. Although I was only twenty-four years old, I had the emotional maturity of far fewer years. Janice and I met in college. We became lovers during our senior year, and my desire, more than anything else, was to spend the rest of my life with her.

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Know Thyself, Heal Thyself
Know Thyself, Heal Thyself

Published in Know Thyself, Heal Thyself

Authenticity, vulnerability, awareness & growth through storytelling, sharing of personal experiences, and knowledge on spiritual matters.

Clifford Jones
Clifford Jones

Written by Clifford Jones

I write about the art of human transformation, consciousness, spiritual evolution, mental health, workplace stress, and recovery from addiction. Join me.

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