If you are struggling in a relationship, or just wondering what the secrets are to a long and happy partnership, then you could read Barbaba ‘Cutie’ Cooper’s memoir – Fall in Love for Life. She was married to her husband ‘Harry’ for 73 years and with the help of her granddaughters jotted down her pearls of wisdom.
In this memoir meets relationship advice book, 94-year-old Cutie Cooper chronicles the challenges and triumphs of her seven decade-long marriage and then pulls out sage tips and actionable advice on the art of fighting fair, knowing if you’ve met ‘the one,’ raising children while maintaining your sense of self, and everything else that goes into staying blissfully bonded. In a world of 72-day celebrity marriages, a 73-year marriage is nearly unimaginable. Against all odds, Cutie and Harry Cooper persevered through seven decades of marriage, enjoying triumphant milestones and enduring devastating losses, all while keeping their sense of humour and connection intact.
With vintage photos charting their relationship from newlyweds to nonagenarians, this nostalgic and romantic gift book is a practical resource for anyone who dreams of falling in love for life. Cutie Cooper was happily married to her husband, Harry, for 73 years before he passed away in 2010.
Sage advice from her book & blog:
“Everyone who lives long enough to love deeply will experience great losses. Don’t let fear of loss, or the losses themselves, take away your ability to enjoy the wonderful life that is yours.”
- Fill your life with trustworthy friends, and don’t drop them should you fall in love. They can be your guides should you ever lose track of what is important in your life.
- Try to come home from work with interesting stories to share. This strengthens your relationship by keeping your thoughts on your beloved all day long.
- It’s okay to be annoyed by things that the person you love does, but it’s not okay to hold grudges. If you learn to articulate the things that bother you, and be willing to bend, your partner will do the same
- You can think something completely differently than your sweetheart does, and you can both be right. Pick your battles, and respect your differences.
- Both people in a marriage need to feel free to pursue their passions, secure in the knowledge that their partners, even if they don’t share the passions, will be supportive. Don’t feel like you have to enjoy doing everything together or your life will become all compromise.
- You have to be firm when you let people know how you want to be treated, and what the consequences will be if they do not listen.
In the Daily Mail, Barbara gave her 5 top tips to happy marriage as: Make time to make love, always greet your partner, keep the romance alive even when you have children, be honest about money problems & control your anger.
Before Harry passed away, they were both known for their blog ‘The OGs’ (standing for Original Grandparents) where the LA couple shared stories, photos and videos about their neighborhood and trips abroad as well as advice on how they kept their marriage alive so long. Many of those tips found their way into ‘Fall in Love for Life.’
Blog: http://www.the-ogs.com/
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fall-in-Love-For-Life-Inspiration-from-a-73-Year-Marriage/301327443293527
Tumblr Link: http://fallinlove4life.tumblr.com/
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