Q: I am fortunate to have had many wonderful romantic relationships during my life. Although I am now a widow, I feel blessed every day. There are, of course, some days that don't meet my expectations, but most of my days have exceeded them.

My granddaughter plans to marry in July and has asked me for advice on how to see the same success that I have. What would you suggest she prioritize?

A: Based on your successful life, you have the answer, and how wonderful it is to have her seek your advice! If you're making a list of priorities for her, choosing a positive attitude should be No. 1. Life is never perfect, and you can sour your relationship if you spend too much time criticizing your partner.

It's essential to be willing to compromise and be patient when you're unhappy. This can be difficult, but remind yourself to choose positive habits. That alone is an important problem-solver.

Be careful about sensitive topics when advising your granddaughter, such as raising children and spending money. But remind her that she won't be marrying just a husband; she will marry his entire family and friends, too.

Emphasize to her the importance of maintaining ongoing communication with her spouse. If they don't talk and plan their lives, they may learn they do not even know who they married. Share your opinions.

Finally, if either of them feels the relationship isn't working, they shouldn't just ignore the problem. They can ask for advice from a marriage counselor, minister or knowledgeable friend. The sooner you openly address your issues, the more likely you are to solve them.

Perfection doesn't exist, so patience is vital! — Doug

ROAD RAGE

Q: This week, I was out driving to do some errands, and a man started screaming at me through his car window when I took a spot in the market parking lot. It put me very off-balance, and I didn't know how to react. It seems like younger generations have explosive road rage, and it makes me very nervous to drive.

Is it all just everybody else's problem?

A: At the end of the day, that man losing his temper was an inappropriate reaction. Publicly screaming at a stranger is extreme and not something that one would normally expect. As long as you didn't hit or nearly hit anybody or anything, his behavior was disproportionate.

However, it's important for you to analyze why he reacted in this way, especially if you're finding this kind of encounter happens to you a lot. Although his behavior wasn't OK, he may have good reason to be angry with you.

Give yourself a self-assessment on your driving and how it affects those around you. If you're cutting people off and not noticing others around you, you're causing other drivers a lot of stress, which leads to heightened tempers. Driving is perilous and mistakes are costly, so make sure that you aren't endangering others.

At the end of the day, you can't control other people, but you can control yourself. Stay vigilant on the road! — Emma, Doug's granddaughter

Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at deardoug@msn.com. Betty is a friend of Doug Mayberry, whom she helps write this column. To find out more about Doug Mayberry and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.