As Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn Hit Their 40th Anniversary, Here Are 7 Foolproof Relationship Rules We’re Stealing From Them

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn’s anniversary falls precisely on Valentine’s Day, and this year, they’re celebrating 40 blissful years together. Of course, it takes way more than a notable date to make a relationship work, and we can definitely take a few pages out of Goldie and Kurt’s playbook of love.

Here are most notable guidelines for a successful relationship that Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have been living by for decades.

1. They regularly praise each other.

One of the very important rules in a relationship is to never take your partner for granted. We should never forget to appreciate our partners and let them know exactly why.

As Goldie said about Kurt: “He’s really, really smart. I like that when he puts his mind to something, it can be a little obsessive-compulsive, but at the same time, he gets it right. I think he’s one of the great actors of all time. And he’s a fantastic father. So I win because I can think exactly what I love about him.”

In return, Russell makes his beloved feel like a queen every day without any need for a special occasion. As Goldie once recalled, “The other night we were going to go have dinner. He looks at me and goes, ’You’re unbelievable.’ He said, ’I cannot believe how [beautiful] you look.’ He really appreciates that.”

In addition, when Russell was receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he paid a beautiful tribute to his partner: “Goldie to you, I owe my wonderful life. Simply put, Goldie, I cherish you. And all the stars in the sky or on the boulevard don’t hold a candle to that.”

2. They give each other space.

There shouldn’t be a standard as to how much time couples should spend with each other, but it’s a known fact that a little personal time occasionally is a must. The famous actress agrees and adds: “It depends on what year or era you’re in, in your relationship. In a healthy, longer-term relationship, I would say it’s great to be together about 68% of the time.”

3. They keep the spark alive.

Every couple has their own tricks for how to keep things interesting. Luckily for Goldie and Kurt, they have the luxury of having starred in Overboard together.

Hawn once explained that one evening they got cozy and watched them being young and in love with each other on the big screen, and it was magical. She said: “You know how sometimes you forget why you fell in love? I remembered everything, and why I fell in love. It was really something to be able to watch that.”

Goldie’s advice also includes being spontaneous together: “If 2 people really want to be together there’s something to cherish, so you keep it fresh by surprising each other. Go to a hotel room, go take a hike. Make something happen that’s unusual.”

4. They work hard on maintaining a happy family.

It’s no secret that when Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell got together, both of them were already parents. Goldie had a daughter, Kate, and a son, Oliver, while Kurt had a son, Boston, from his previous marriage. They also share their son Wyatt together. The 2 managed to blend their families seamlessly and still remain a close-knit unit.

5. They are the best versions of themselves together.

At 77, Hawn is a very active person, she’s passionate about yoga and staying healthy, and also transfers some of her healthy habits onto her partner. Kurt once revealed: “I’m quite sure that if it weren’t for Goldie, I’d probably weigh 300 pounds by now.” And what is that if it’s not taking care of the person that you love?

6. They make each other laugh.

Considering that both Kurt and Goldie are in the entertainment business, it’s no surprise that they’re never bored together. The famous actor once said that his partner is so naturally funny that it doesn’t take her much to crack him up: “Goldie can literally physically walk away sometimes and make me laugh. She’s funny by nature.”

7. They’re not about putting labels on their relationship.

Finally, one of the things that make us endlessly admire this couple is that they don’t follow the traditional expectations that society has for relationships. After 40 years, the couple is still not married. They explain that they’re very happy together, and they don’t really see the point in marriage. Kurt said: “For people like us, the marriage certificate wasn’t going to create anything that otherwise we wouldn’t have.”

In her turn, Goldie added: “It’s not about the marriage. It’s about the people and the relationship, and the will to stay together. And that’s a big one because if you want it, you can have it.” So as long as they’re happy and comfortable, who cares whether they’re officially married or not, we can see that they’re soulmates without it.