All strong, healthy marriages have these four traits in common: love, communication, companionship and trust. After the initial rush of romance, it's easy for couples to drift apart as the day-to-day grind takes its toll on the relationship. When two people spend so much time together, it's not unfathomable that they might begin to take one anther for granted and lose sight of what first attracted them so much to the other.

But it's not impossible to recapture that tight-knit, fulfilling bond you once had with each other. Whether you've been married for a few years or have stood by one another for the past several decades, the following four tips can help keep all relationships strong and close.

Communication is Key

No relationship can survive without honest, direct communication. It doesn't do either person any good if one or both bottle up feelings or try to turn a blind eye to escalating problems. A lack of communication will become an ever-widening gulf in the marriage. Each spouse will grow to feel alone and disconnected.

Mixed messages and misunderstandings are often at least partly to blame for marital strife. Couples tend to make the mistake of assuming their spouse will automatically know how they feel or understand what they're trying to say. Consider your words carefully during an argument or important discussion. Remember that your tone of voice and body language can belie your true feelings. To avoid seeming as though you are constantly pointing the finger, begin sentences with "I" rather than "You."

Love Can't Survive Without Trust

For a marriage to truly thrive, you must be able to unconditionally trust your spouse, and vice versa. Building trust requires that both members of the couple always be there for one another, and that neither lies nor breaks promises. Without faith in one another, a couple will not be able to withstand the onslaught of anger, jealousy, and suspicion that will develop.

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

To have a close bond with someone means to be able to view things through their perspective instead of focusing solely on your own needs and feelings. Be willing to compromise once in awhile. In the midst of an argument, take a pause and really listen to what your partner is trying to get across to you. You may find that what the both of you want is not really so different after all.

Don't Lose Sight of Your Identity

Nothing makes for a stale, lifeless relationship like two people who insist on doing everything together. You probably wouldn't want to marry a clone of yourself-so give your spouse opportunities to pursue their own interests and hone their own skills which you may not share. If you don't give each other a chance to be individuals outside of your marriage you're apt to wind up smothering the personality that you fell in love with in the first place.

A happy marriage is made up of two unique people who each want to share a huge part of themselves with the other. A happy marriage does not demand that these people compromise their beliefs or their goals for one another. The two members of a healthy union are ready to watch one another's backs and stand by one another while they help each other to lead fulfilling, affection-filled lives.