Is Your Spouse Annoying?

By Willard F. Harley, Jr.

When was the last time your spouse annoyed you? Last week? Yesterday? An hour ago? If you're a guy, the answer is probably "last week." But if you're a gal, it's more likely to be "this very minute." (Women usually find men more annoying than men find women.) Male or female, annoying habits can be unrelenting, day after day, month after month.

A habit is a behavior you repeat without much thought -the way you eat your cereal, take a shower and get into your car. If one of them bothers your spouse (e.g., smacking your lips when eating, slamming the car door), it's an annoying habit.

If you convert some of your annoying habits into pleasing habits, you'll get along better with your spouse and keep romance alive.

But you'd be amazed how many annoying spouses just don't get it. Why are we so annoying?

Annoying spouses often try to convince me that they should be able to do whatever they please-that the objecting spouse should adjust to the other's habits. But the issue is thoughtfulness. If a man wants to be considerate toward his wife, he should avoid doing something that's thoughtless - and annoying.

You can turn your annoying habits into pleasing ones if you decide to be thoughtful. Protect your romantic relationship by getting rid of some of your annoying habits.