Keep a Running Note of Good Memories for Hard Times

During a rough patch, your memory quietly edits itself to fit your mood -- everything good about the relationship becomes hard to recall on demand. A running note fixes that gap between how you feel and what actually happened: jot down the small good moments -- an inside joke, an unexpected kindness -- right when they happen, not when you need them.

When a fight makes the whole relationship feel like a mistake, read the note before deciding anything permanent. It won't erase the current problem, but it keeps the full picture in view instead of just the worst version of it.