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The 3 most important elements of a successful marriage
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The art of marriage is typically thought of to be exactly that an art form. But could there be a more scientific approach? - photo by JJ Feinauer
The art of marriage is typically thought of to be exactly that an art form.

With numerous variables and the complexity of human emotion on full display, marriage has long held a reputation as something to be examined with wonder and fear often reserved for the paintings of Jackson Pollock. Though they may seem identifiably similar on the surface level, no two people are the same, making the union of two souls a delicate game.

But what if that game was less complicated than its reputation lets on? Maybe marriage really is more of a science, not an art. That seems to be the implication of a new study published by Cornell University.

According to the study, recent research into happy marriages shows that, despite the countless variables that certainly exist in every relationship, there seems to be a few identifiable traits found in most successful marriages. The press release for the study goes so far as to claim a formula for success when it comes to marriage.

To better understand this formula, researchers surveyed close to 400 Americans who had been involved in a romantic union for 30 years or more. All participants were Americans age 65 or older. The researchers inquired into what makes a relationship last, and compiled the answers to form the Cornell Marriage Advice Project.

From that research three major themes emerged: communication, knowledge and commitment.

Communication

According to the researchers, communication is key to making any relationship last. The majority of those surveyed said they believed most marital problems can be solved through open communication, and conversely many whose marriages dissolved blamed lack of communication.

As I wrote in February, good communication can go a long way in calming the waters of arguments that naturally arise during any relationship.

Keep yapping at one another, one responded reportedly told the researchers. If you cant communicate, youre just two dead ducks.

Knowledge

Knowledge plays many important roles in marriage. Understanding what lies ahead for you and your partner is vital to charting a successful life together, for example. But one of the most important types of knowledge, according to the survey, is an intimate understanding of the person youll be marrying. How they think, what they love and what they want from life can all be make-or-break issues for compatibility. Thats why its so important to know exactly who youre marrying.

Those looking for a successful marriage should wait to marry until they have gotten to know their partner well and have a number of shared experiences, the researchers said, summarizing the responses.

Their strongest recommendation is to marry someone who is generally similar to you, they explained elsewhere. Marriage is difficult for anyone, but its much easier with someone who shares your interests, background and orientation.

Commitment

Its no secret that despite recent declines, high divorce rates remain an important part of the public dialogue around marriage. While theres certainly no surefire way to eliminate divorce altogether, the researchers found that those in successful relationships think marriage is as much a state of mind as anything.

Rather than seeing marriage as a voluntary partnership that lasts only as long as the passion does, the researchers found the elders propose a mindset in which it is a profound commitment to be respected, even if things go sour over the short term.

They see marriage as a discipline, one of the researchers found. Like becoming an athlete or a musician you never reach perfection, you are constantly learning, and you sacrifice short-term gain for something more rewarding later on.

But in the end, one of the most poignant lessons the researchers found in the wisdom of the elders, is that marriage is indeed worth it.

It is a sublime experience, they said. A connection to another person unlike any other relationship.
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Record April boosts Savannah's container trade at port
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The Port of Savannah moved 356,700 20-foot equivalent container units in April, an increase of 7.1 percent. - photo by Provided

The Georgia Ports Authority's busiest April ever pushed its fiscal year-to-date totals to more than 3.4 million 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), an increase of 8.8 percent, or 280,000 TEUs, compared to the first 10 months of fiscal 2017.

"We're on track to move more than 300,000 TEUs in every month of the fiscal year, which will be a first for the authority," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "We're also anticipating this to be the first fiscal year for the Port of Savannah to handle more than 4 million TEUs."

April volumes reached 356,700 20-foot equivalent container units, up 7.1 percent or 23,700 units. As the fastest growing containerport in the nation, the Port of Savannah has achieved a compound annual growth rate of more than 5 percent a year over the past decade.

"As reported in the recent economic impact study by UGA's Terry College of Business, trade through Georgia's deepwater ports translates into jobs, higher incomes and greater productivity," said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. "In every region of Georgia, employers rely on the ports of Savannah and Brunswick to help them become more competitive on the global stage."

To strengthen the Port of Savannah's ability to support the state's future economic growth, the GPA Board approved $66 million in terminal upgrades, including $24 million for the purchase of 10 additional rubber-tired gantry cranes.  

"The authority is committed to building additional capacity ahead of demand to ensure the Port of Savannah remains a trusted link in the supply chain serving Georgia and the Southeast," Lynch said.

The crane purchase will bring the fleet at Garden City Terminal to 156 RTGs. The new cranes will support three new container rows, which the board approved in March. The additional container rows will increase annual capacity at the Port of Savannah by 150,000 TEUs.

The RTGs will work over stacks that are five containers high and six deep, with a truck lane running alongside the stacks. Capable of running on electricity, the cranes will have a lift capacity of 50 metric tons.

The cranes will arrive in two batches of five in the first and second quarters of calendar year 2019.

 Also at Monday's meeting, the GPA Board elected its officers, with Jimmy Allgood as chairman, Will McKnight taking the position of vice chairman and Joel Wooten elected as the next secretary/treasurer.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

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