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" No one knows more about how to create a successful marriage than those who live it every day. In their new book, Wonderful Marriage, Lilo and Gerry Leeds, who&amp;#039;ve been married for more than 56 years, share their wisdom on how to build and sustain a strong and lasting partnership. Some of their tips: Be your ideal spouse. If someone asked you what you wanted from your partner, you&amp;#039;d quickly rattle off a long list of qualities. But a great relationship starts with you, the Leedses say. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s my job to be the kind of partner I want,&amp;quot; Lilo says. &amp;quot;I think, Instead of criticizing, what can I do differently? or What am I doing that is upsetting him?&amp;quot; Once you commit to improving you, you&amp;#039;ll notice a difference in your relationship \u2013 and you&amp;#039;ll be motivated to improve even more.  Think before you speak. &amp;quot;When I&amp;#039;m angry, I say, &amp;#039;Don&amp;#039;t talk to me. I&amp;#039;m busy counting to 100,&amp;#039;&amp;quot; Lilo says. &amp;quot;Counting prevents fights from escalating because by the time I&amp;#039;m done, I either forget why I am mad or I realize that what I&amp;#039;m angry about is unimportant.&amp;quot;  Ask for what you need instead of complaining about what is wrong. If something bothers you, it&amp;#039;s better to get it off your chest rather than fume. &amp;quot;But there&amp;#039;s a big difference between &amp;#039;We never go out to dinner&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;I&amp;#039;d like to go out for dinner,&amp;#039;&amp;quot; Lilo says. &amp;quot;Asking sets a positive tone, and is more likely to get results.&amp;quot;  Make your marriage a lifelong courtship. &amp;quot;Just because the honeymoon ends doesn&amp;#039;t mean the romance has to stop,&amp;quot; Lilo says. Gerry adds, &amp;quot;We are still holding hands, making love, and skiing down mountains together. We knew we&amp;#039;d be happy when we met more than five decades ago, but the reality is better than our dreams.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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