Marriage is somewhat like a pot of milk permanently on the boil. Any minute it can spill if you do not keep a watch. Therefore to save your marriage, never allow the milk pot to overflow. In other words, remain alert all the time to catch the early signs of decay. Or else, it might go bad beyond repair.

Neglect shows up sooner or later and marriage is no exception. But if you remain alert and sensitive of what is happening around you, the usual boredom and decay that sets in can be prevented.

The first sign of decay in a marriage is stoppage of meaningful communication. Neither of you have anything more to say to each other except exchange pleasantries and inconsequential details about life and events.

The second sure sign of a rotting marriage is when you no longer live as friends but more as two paying guests sharing the same apartment for the sake of convenience. At times, both of you fight only to prove a point or prove intellectual superiority. If you take a closer look at the way things are going, such fallacies would become more obvious and noticeable.

However, if you both genuinely love and respect each other and want to sincerely make the marriage work, there are several proactive actions you can take.

Begin by frankly confessing about your inadequacies and apologize for any hurtful actions of the past. Secondly, open up the clogged channels of communication once again without ridiculing or poking fun at each other. Respect the decisions taken by your spouse and value his or her time and preoccupations.

Earlier you catch the signs of decay in a marriage – higher are your chances to prevent it from going downhill anymore. However, whatever you do, never compromise on your sense of self-esteem and self-respect. Or else, you might be able to save your marriage, but at the end of the day, both of you would be very famished and depleted human beings.