Sarah Jessica Parker Shares the Sweet Secret to Her 20-Year Marriage
Sarah Jessica Parker revealed the unbelievably simple secret behind her 20-year marriage to Matthew Broderick.
"Sex and the City" main character Carrie Bradshaw probably could have used some relationship advice from Sarah Jessica Parker. Just in time for Valentine's Day, the 52-year-old "Divorce" actor opened up about her 20-year marriage to Matthew Broderick, revealing the completely relatable secret to their happy union.
"I feel like it changes," she tells People. "Your needs are shifting. You and your partner are going to change. It seems so silly, but I think you're very lucky if you like the person. I still just really like him. I'm sure I annoy him and he annoys me, but I literally learn about him every day. I'm like, 'You're doing what? You're reading what?'"
That is so sweet, right? According to experts, Parker is onto something. Wellness counselor Anne Parker (no relation to SJP) tells LIVESTRONG.COM that cultivating curiosity leads to discovery, "and ongoing discovery about each other keeps the relationship vital and interesting."
And the pair's curiosity for one another definitely reflects in the way that Parker describes their relationship: "I think marriage has a lot of vitality," she says. "If you're fortunate, it's like this dazzling organism." We'll have what she's having!
Parker married Broderick, 55, in 1997, with a wedding that was straight out of the movies. According to People, the pair invited 100 of their closest friends to the Big Apple for what they thought was a party. Instead, Parker took to the aisle in a now-famous black wedding dress, and the rest is history. We hope none of the unsuspecting guests wore white.
Parker never had an "aha" moment when it came to wanting to marry Broderick, but she recalls hoping early on that they would last.
"I never thought about a wedding dress. Never. Had not one daydream about it," she says. "At one point I just simply remember thinking, 'God, I really hope he asks me to marry him.' I don't know when or why. It was fairly early on."
While Parker makes it sound easy, staying curious about your partner when you think you already know them like the inside of your pocket can be pretty challenging. According to Anne Parker (the wellness counselor we spoke with for the article), staying present is key.
"Being present means fully engaging in what is being shared between you in that moment, truly paying attention to the thoughts, feelings and actions you're experiencing together," she says.
So for this Valentine's Day, why not turn off Netflix, put down your phone and actually have a conversation with your significant other. Just like with SJP and Broderick, it will strengthen your bond and increase the likelihood of keeping your relationship going through thick and thin!
Read more: How 10 Celebrity Couples Keep Their Relationships Healthy
What Do YOU Think?
Are you planning to go device-free during Valentine's Day? What do you do to keep your relationship fresh and interesting? Share in the comments section!