Griffin Speaks

HOLD ON TO YOUR SPOUSE

When I was a child there was a popular song titled: “YOU BETTER HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU’VE GOT!” The lyrics that stand out in my mind are: “You better hold on to what you’ve got!” “If you don’t want your man or woman just throw them out in the street and before you can count one, two, three, someone will have your man or woman!”

Your friends criticize your partner, saying what they would not put up with. They highlight for you the bad habits of your man or woman. What they often don’t tell you is that they would love to have him or her with all of those bad habits. Everyone giving you advice does not have your best interest at heart.  Kick them to the curb! 

I knew a woman who listened to her best friend criticize her husband at every opportunity. Once the woman divorced the husband her best friend married him. The divorced woman is still alone and very unhappy. 

Stop discussing the intimate details of your relationship with every Tom, Dick and Harry. They may have a hidden agenda. An agenda that is not in your best interest. 

My paternal grandmother use to tell her daughters that a piece of a man is better than no man at all. I won’t give that advice to my daughter, Alexis, However I can understand and appreciate the point she was trying to make.

It is good to have someone even if they aren’t perfect. 

I don’t suggest that anyone remains in an abusive relationship or relationships just for the sake of saying they have someone. However I do suggest that you guard your relationship and be weary of the people who give you advice to end them. One thing is certain, if you don’t want him or her there is always someone waiting for them. Often your partner has more value than you think. 

A disgruntled spouse once told me that he knew that he could find a wife better than the one he married. I looked at him and told him that she could also do better than him. He got angry, but realized that I spoke the truth. He decided to keep her. 

So my friends calm down and communicate with your partner. Open your eyes and look beyond their faults. If you throw them out, before you can count one, two, three someone will have your partner. 

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com