Space, Spouses And Successful Marriages

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A successful marriage isn’t just about togetherness—it’s also about space. While love thrives on connection, it also needs breathing room to grow. Many couples struggle with balancing closeness and individuality, leading to feelings of suffocation or emotional distance.

Why Space Is Essential In A Marriage

Many moons ago, we sat with our morning tea. It’s a ritual, you know. Tea, biscuits and conversation about the oncoming day. The schedules, the people and the occasional argument about money, bills, or both.

She said, “It’s been a long since we had a holiday. We should. It’s high time.”

Allow individual friendships without jealousy or insecurity

Automatically, my first worry was about the empty purse that I had seen the previous night. The bank statement, too, had not been very encouraging. I used to quip to fellow sufferers that I worked for my company, SBI, LIC and HDFC Housing Finance. Not for myself. This worry led me to a practical take on the whole situation.

Related reading: 10 reasons why Indian couples fight

“Listen, I am not going to get a holiday in a hurry. Why don’t you go somewhere? Maybe to a relative’s place or something?” I asked.

She looked at me as if I was joking, saw my earnest expression and then realised that I was probably speaking the truth and I meant what I said.

“Where would I go?” she asked.

“Anywhere, but in India, that can be reached by train or something.” I was on a roll.

“Can I take Kiddo with me?” I knew this would come up.

“Of course!”

“A strong marriage is not about spending every moment together—it’s about making every moment count.”

That was her first vacation, in the Garhwal hills. From then on, she went alone for many more vacations. These became all-women trips. Then they graduated to adventure trips in larger groups. She started some group hobbies – sports, marathons and the like. Those were completely different from what I do, or at least, love doing. She acquired a set of new friends whom she spoke about now and then but I barely knew.

Related Reading: 5 Reasons Why Space In A Relationship Is Not An Ominous Sign

In return, I started to do my own things. More movies, more Litfests, more travel for work and friends from various walks of life – artists, entertainers, researchers. She had no interest in any of them.

We were happy. There was never any urge to mix the different worlds and host a party at home. I knew it would be odd.

She had men friends who were muscular. I had lady friends who wore large bindis. If anything, there would be sparks of the wrong kind!

One day we decided to talk about this. It wasn’t exactly a decision, it just sort of came about.

“Let’s count our common friends,” she said. I hemmed and hawed. It came down to three couples.

“This bad?” I murmured. And then we broke into laughter. It was a kind of catharsis, that laughter. I tried reasoning that usually ‘best friends’ are only two to three couples, not more. But yeah, it was pathetic that I didn’t even know her friends well. Happily, I noted that she was even worse.

We stopped laughing. This was space. Unknowingly, we had hit upon the process and we had come to a stage where we had two very independent lives under one roof. Happy. Calm. Understanding.

I told her that. It became a kind of a by-line to all of our conversations, arguments or messages in the ensuing years.

“Aren’t you lucky to have a spouse who’s not in your hair?”

Of course, there have been moments when one ground one’s teeth at the non-availability of the other. Sometimes, relatives raised quizzical eyebrows about solo appearances or appearances at different times. But overall, it is smooth sailing.

Do we recommend such a lifestyle to others? Well, you could try. But don’t blame us if it does not work for you.

Things like this are based on absolute trust and faith. No less.
Oh yeah, and lots of love.

Plus, basic respect for each other. So, there’s a lot of hard work for years towards a good and functioning marriage before one can even start in such a direction.

There will be no axe to grind and no stones to throw.

As I said, you need to be happy, calm and understanding!

Final Thoughts

A successful marriage isn’t about constant closeness, but about finding the right rhythm between connection and individuality. Love grows when partners feel secure, supported, and free to be themselves. Our counseling services help couples navigate healthy boundaries, communication, and emotional connection.

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