Twenty-three years? Wow. It's hard to believe that it's been over twenty years since the Hollywood super couple, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith said "I do."
As they will celebrate her 23rd wedding anniversary on December 31st this, Jada revealed the secret to the success of her two-decade union with her actor hubby.
While explaining couples therapy has helped them through tricky patches in their marriage, the Girl's Trip movie star said: "We celebrate twenty this year. I think the secret is just friendship."
And if you look at the couple in public or in documentaries, they like to have fun. Even with the latest "swamp story" that has gone viral, the couple are friends first. Take a look...
"You have to go off and find your happiness. The hardest thing to do is being married."
Jada admitted a lot this year including her affair with singer August Alsina. She also confessed that the pair had attended couples therapy.
Jada added: "People need to go and deal with personal traumas – because with that comes expectations. You expect them to fill voids for you but you need to do that separately. Expecting someone else to make you happy is not right."
If you've followed Will and Jada over the years, there seems to always be some rumor or two (or three) about their impending divorce. In 2015, the rumor mill has started up again and more than a few people (and websites), jumped on the bandwagon saying that the couple was officially calling it quits.
But many were shocked when Will, instead of ignoring all rumors like the couple has done so successfully in the past, responded to the allegations publicly on his facebook page. The Hollywood actor stated:
So, instead of jumping on the bandwagon like many media outlets, BlackDoctor.org took some time to research some of the points as to why and how they power couple stays together despite the many rumors.
Here's 4 key things we found:
1. Their Respect For One Another:
Time and time again in many interviews, both Will and Jada mention their mutual admiration for each other's quality of work.
Even through their impending divorce and their separation they admitted to this year, at the end of the day, they respect each other.
Will has mentioned Jada in his songs as well as when he's on the red carpet with things like "I really think [this] is a good role for her.
It allows her to spread her wings creatively and show her true talent." And on the flipside, Jada is very complementary of Will whenever a question gets asked about her husband's roles. In front of the camera, they have been a united front--even when things were shaky.
2. They Do What Works For Them:
Never have Will nor Jada mentioned that because this one couple has done something that they will do it too. Nope. Just doesn't happen. In their interviews, they mention creating their own games or fun routines that makes THEM happy, no one else.
So even when folks crticize how they do their marriage, we must remember, it's THEIR marriage, not ours. If they like it, then it's good for them.
3. They Make Time:
As one of Hollywood's busiest power couples, Will and Jada are always working. If they're not acting, they're producing, closing deals for futures productions or researching ventures that they can buy into.
With that said, the couple still makes time for family. It's something that Will stated was very important to him when he married Jada. Because he had a son from a previous marriage, it was important that all of them worked to spend time quality time together--for the good of the family.
4. They Believe:
Yes, they simply believe that their marriage, that each other, that them as a unit can and will work. So many times, we give up because we stop believing.
In many Will Smith interviews, he truly believes in the power of the mind and using the mind to get what you want out of life. "A man who believes that he can or he can't is always right," is something he reiterated in one interview to bring home the point that what you believe, you manifest. The same is with marriage. Believe that it WILL work.
Love can be messy. It can be hard. But at the same time, it can be worth it.
For more on your favorite couple or tips to help your own relationship, click here.