Married 83 years, couple reveals their secrets to lasting love

"How do you define love? Through (the) little things..."

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for John and Ann Betar. The couple, who’ve been named one of America’s longest-married couples, was off to a rocky start.

Ann’s father wanted her to marry another man but they eloped when they when John was 21 and Ann, 17.

“We struggled in the beginning, but, luckily, we were content with what we had. It’s just important to be content with what you have,” John revealed to the Huffington Post.

Now great-grandparents, the couple have both lived past a century: John is now 104 and Ann is 100.

What’s their secret? Their treasure trove of wisdom about life and love is now being made available to all as the couple took to twitter on Valentine’s day using the official twitter page of cleaning/handyman service, Handy.

Over a hundred questions poured in from all over the world asking John and Ann how they can find lasting love and how to make their marriage last a lifetime.

Eight decades later, what is still their fondest memory of their wedding day?

.@SurelyURJoking John: “We were happy, but scared. That’s what we remember…but we made up for it all these years, didn’t we?!”
— Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

What do you do after an argument?

.@dreamdy John: “We never hold grudges. Most arguments are about food.”
— Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

How do you keep things fresh?

.@c9clubbb Ann: We hang onto one another! Just a few little hugs and we’re fine.
— Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

photo: Huffington post

More wisdom from John and Ann on the next page…

“You have to like a person before you love them”

.@HussainAHunaina Ann: “You have to like a person before you love them. We were good friends.”
— Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

.@HussainAHunaina John: “She struck me right away.”
— Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

What memory makes you smile the most?

Ann:”Seeing grandkids as adults. Great-grandchildren coming up, putting their little arms around you adds 10-15 years to your life.” — Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

What’s the secret to raising respectful kids?

Ann: “People would say we have wonderful, understanding kids. They respected other people. That was really fulfilling for us.” — Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

What’s the secret to lasting love?

@m_portuna81 Ann: “He loves the whole world. He doesn’t think about disliking anybody. I don’t either.”
— Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

How do you keep each other happy?

.@m_portuna81 Ann: “It’s a lifelong thing. How do you define love? Through actions, understanding, little things…”
— Handy (@Handy) February 14, 2016

READ: 17 Secrets to a lasting marriage

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Bianchi Mendoza

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