20 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Significant Other

We feel grateful when our spouse does something special for us. Do we express it?

Appreciation is the voice of gratitude. While gratitude is an emotion, expressing that gratitude is appreciation.

In the mad rush of today’s life, many don’t feel that it is necessary to even say something as simple as “Thank you” when the partner makes an extra effort to support, do household chores or cook.

That’s because we take too many things for granted.

So when do you appreciate your spouse? There is no such thing as a fitting moment. Every opportunity is a right moment.

How do you Show Gratitude to your Spouse?

When your wife dresses up well for you, say something nice. Appreciation is to say that it was a great meal after your husband puts in extra effort to cook something special for you. Spending more time with your spouse is an expression of appreciation. The opportunities are endless.

When your spouse makes a mistake, as all spouses are bound to do, overlooking the little ones is a show of appreciation. Remember, it takes strength to forgive. Besides, such magnanimity will not go unnoticed and your spouse will reciprocate this generosity.

Advantages of Appreciating

Expressing gratitude at every opportunity has two significant advantages. In the beginning expressing gratitude may be mechanical. But as time goes we begin to sincerely feel what we say. And this sincerity will become apparent to your spouse. That is one aspect.

The other aspect is that when your spouse begins to see that she or he is truly appreciated for the additional effort, the bonding between the two becomes stronger and gratitude becomes spontaneously mutual.

Make it a habit to tell your spouse how grateful you are without the expectation of anything in return. Soon you will find that you get more appreciation than you give.

Laud your spouse for making you feel special.

On Thanksgiving, it’s customary to be appreciative of the many things we all have to be thankful for. But it can be easy to take the person who’s always there for granted, even though he or she actually means everything to you.

I asked friends and family of all ages and genders to tell me why they were so thankful for their significant other. Here are 20 of their answers, which made me smile, laugh, and occasionally tear up:

“I’m thankful because although I may physically be alone I’m never mentally alone. The dude has got my back. And he always knows which beer at the microbrewery I’ll like.” —Andrea

“I am thankful that instead of emphasizing my faults, my husband uses them as an opportunity to help me be at my best. I missed my alarm this morning and got up a half hour before I was supposed to be at work. Instead of telling me I should have set two alarms, he asked “is there anything I can do to help?” Who has two thumbs and is beyond blessed? This girl.” —Alicia

“Poptart, my feline boyfriend, because he never judges my crazy hair, ugly sweats or when I cry during sappy commercials.” —Erin

“I’m thankful for my wife for standing by me in very difficult times in my life, difficult financial times and stressful times in my life.” —Rick

“Because he is hilarious, silly, and always keeps me laughing. Even when he sometimes threatens to not be funny anymore and talks for 10 minutes in monotone, it is hard not to laugh at such a ridiculous statement and behavior. And I’m thankful he has red hair, because I can find him anywhere—especially in foreign countries (except the U.K.—that’s a little tougher)!” —Erin

“He pays my bills.” —Joel

“He is always there for me and always has been there for his kids, a family man at heart, and he loves to cook!! A great plus for turkey day.” —Debbie

“He tolerates and appreciates my family…which has proven to be very difficult for previous men in my life! He makes the holidays enjoyable for me again!! Love him!!!” —Joanna

“Because we are a true TEAM in every way—we couldn’t have the wonderful life we have if we weren’t. I am also grateful and happily surprised that he can put things together and fix things around the house—a talent I didn’t know I was getting when I said ‘I do.’ You know, before we actually owned anything, we had to put together or fix…” —Addie

“Ben takes his role as the spiritual leader of our household seriously, and he is really good at lightening the mood at home when the kids are starting to drive me crazy.” —Brianna

“Because he truly is my best friend! He is a wonderful husband and father, putting our needs before his own. He can also take care of most everything in our house. So nice to have a competent DIY-er always on call.” —Monica

“I’m thankful for my wife because she’s the most loving person I know, and she loves me even when I mess up—which is rarely.” —Mark

“Because he puts up with my crazy. And because when he wakes up before me, he turns the shower on so when I crawl out of bed I can sprint into the hot water.” —Lauren

“Because he is the most supportive man. He supports all that I do, what I believe in, and picks me up when I’m down.” —Danielle

“I can’t even…because Melissa just crushes it. Like, out of the park. All the time. In every way!” —Joe

“Simple…she put up with me for 40-some years!!!” —Steve

“Because he is an animal lover and so am I, and when I bring home lost pets or foster five animals at a time, he never complains (even when I occasionally take them to his house with me and they pee on his floor…sorry, Mike!). He is just, plain and simple, a good man!” —Dena

“I am thankful for the lack of a significant other, in this instant, because I can eat banana fudge brownie Haagen-Dazs topped with Bailey’s for dinner and not be judged or made to feel guilty.” —Meghan (Ed. note: Amen)

“I’m grateful for my husband because he takes extremely good care of me. He even went and got my coffee this morning before he went to work, meaning he had to leave the house 20 minutes earlier. And he lets me have a pajama day every Sunday and he doesn’t mock me for it.” —Gerry

“I am thankful to my significant other for being the best husband in the whole wide world and making my food and taking care of me and putting my warmies in my bed every night. And today, he kissed me and told me that he loved me because he heard a song that he remembered from our very first date.” —Dona

Any of these sound like reasons you’re thankful for your partner? Or what are your reasons to be grateful?

Happiest Thanksgiving everyone! And a very happy Hanukkah to all those celebrating that as well. What are you most thankful for today?

ref:-glamour.com, happymarriages.com

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES