The second half of marriage is an amazing time in a couple’s life. Many couples find themselves financially secure, with older teenagers or adult children who have moved out. There’s more free time to spend together, along with plenty of opportunities to reconnect and reignite the spark you felt in your early days together.
Research tells us that the second half of marriage is the most fulfilling time for committed couples. During the later half of marriage, many couples’ satisfaction begins to rise so high that social scientists no longer have instruments to measure their happiness. We talk about this in our seminars and hear it from other couples as well.
Part of that satisfaction comes from physical intimacy. Sometimes, life’s demands can put a damper on intimacy. As you approach middle age, you may find yourselves with more time and energy to be together. But what happens when you encounter challenges along the way?
Challenges to Intimacy in Middle Age
Oftentimes, couples who have been married for two decades or more are comfortable in their routines. If you’re hoping to cultivate more intimacy with your spouse in the second half of marriage, you may encounter some challenges. All seasons of life have unique hurdles to overcome.
According to research, many wives in the second half of marriage feel content to emphasize emotional intimacy without as much of the physical aspect. In contrast, husbands need physical intimacy. Consider having a conversation about your sex life, and what each of you desires at this stage.
Maybe you’d like to add more variety to the bedroom, or would prefer to be intimate more often. To achieve that, you’ll need to intentionally create opportunities to help your relationship feel fresh and exciting. Remember, you have the freedom to explore all the possibilities. Make the discovery process fun!
Many women from middle age onward don’t feel as attractive as they once did. They believe they don’t fit the media’s image of what is sexually appealing. Husbands, if you’re hoping for more intimacy with your wife, help her feel attractive and wanted. Speak life into her and let her know how much you love her. This is the woman you chose, and will continue to choose; let her know. The more you do that, the more willing and interested in intimacy she’ll be.
Approach Your Marriage From a Fresh Perspective
This is a time in your life when you have the opportunity to approach your marriage from a fresh perspective. Create fresh moments of connection and deliberately seek out joy together. Spend time with one another and enjoy shared activities that help you get to know each other all over again.
It’s time to start courting your spouse again. Date one another. Plan the fun, shared experiences that get you in the mood for shared passion. Taking intentional steps each day will help you recapture the spark you felt at the beginning of your relationship. Our book, Strengthen Your Marriage, along with the SYMBIS+ Assessment, are powerful guides to help you along the way. Learn more and order yours here.
Have you reached the second half of marriage? How do you nurture one another well? Leave us a comment and let us know.
