Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
What has your divorce taught you? For motivational speaker Gerald Rogers, newly divorced after 16 years of marriage, divorce has been a chance to take stock on what went wrong in his relationship and a way to finally learn from his mistakes.
In his Facebook post, “Advice I wish I would have had,” the Utah man outlines beneath a photo from his wedding day what he now realizes are the key components to making a marriage last. The post has since gone viral, quickly wracking up over 129,000 shares and 21,000 likes.
Some of his advice includes: “Never stop courting … Always see the best in her … Be present … Give her space … Don’t worry about money … Never stop growing together.”
In one poignant tip, Rogers shares, “BE SILLY… don’t take yourself so damn seriously. Laugh. And make her laugh. Laughter makes everything else easier.”
Why go public with such a personal list? Rogers says it was his way of finally getting some closure.
“When I wrote that, obviously, I had no idea or intention I’d be on the Today show talking about it,” Rogers says in the morning show clip above. “It was like 1 o’clock in the morning. There’s so much pain that happens in the process of divorce. I think a lot of people can relate to that. … I just sat down and I was like, ‘What am I going to do different next time?'”
The full list can be found on Rogers’ Facebook page.
“The advice I wrote for myself … there are other people, millions across the world that benefit from it. I’m grateful that God’s chosen to get that message to them.”
What advice do you have for yourself?