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More than just love for lasting marriage
Sa’adiah Abdullah and her husband, Ahmad Taib met each other at the age of 26 and married soon after. They have been together for more than 56 years. – Pic courtesy of Sa’adiah Abdullah, February 14, 2016.When Sa’adiah Abdullah caught the sight of a brooding young man from Kelantan who visited her family’s home in Muar, Johor as a friend to her brother, she knew there was something extraordinary about the connection she felt.
“At an instant I can feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach. A feeling I have yet to understand at that moment,” said Sa’adiah.
His lighthearted ways made him an instant heartthrob in her family and nothing could describe her joy when her brother told her about his friend’s interest in Sa’adiah.
Sa’adiah the teacher and Ahmad Taib the contractor became husband and wife at a large, joyous ceremony her family home in 1975.
56 years later, the couple still reside at the same house they first met. Still as coy and playful as they were in their younger days, they bond together by pulling pranks and teasing their grandchildren.
At a time when divorce rates hit skyrocketing high in the society, one can’t help but wonder what is the secret to keeping a long-lasting and happy marriage.
“Compromise. It is imperative for both husband and wife to know when and how to compromise to each other," said the 82-year-old Sa'adiah.
“If you decide to accept someone into your life, you have to be aware that you are opening your arms to their strengths and weaknesses as well."
Robert Charles and Nilufer Hoare both believe that the key to a successful relationship is patience and understanding. – Pic courtesy of Nilufer Hoare, February 14, 2016.For Kenyan-born Nilufer Hoare, patience and understanding are key to maintaining a successful marriage.
Nilufer and her husband Robert Charles Hoare met in London and resided there until they moved to Malaysia under the Malaysia My Second Home programme.
Celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this July, Nilufer added that couples that enjoy each other’s company would stand the test of time.
“Patience, understanding and being protective are very important features to look for in a spouse.
“As one half of a partnership, we must not assume that we are above or better than our other half. Instead, we learn to value them as an individual who share our fears, concerns and most importantly, happiness,” she said.
For Sa’adiah and her husband, an important lesson in keeping the love alive in a marriage was finding ways to make each other feel appreciated regularly, and not just confined to special occasions like anniversaries or Valentine's Day.
“Most importantly, regardless of how heated your arguments might be, never go to bed separately. For me, that is the secret to a long-lasting marriage,” she added. – February 14, 2016.
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