When you live with another person, it's only natural that the other person's behavior can work on your nerves a little…or a lot. Although you can't change a person's behavior, you can work together to let each other know things that are somewhat irritating, so hopefully the offender can make an effort to be considerate of their partner.

In effort to work on having a happy marriage or relationship, it's important to try to maintain an open dialogue about things so they don't build up and fester. My mom told me that you can try to be tolerant, but there's also a limit to tolerance. You may have to put up with something, but you can also communicate those things politely to the other person.

I think a very common irritating habit is leaving an empty milk carton in the refrigerator or filling up the trash and not emptying it. At those times you can politely say, "Honey, when the carton is left empty in the refrigerator, I don't know to pick up more milk. Could you please take it out and write milk onto the grocery list?" or some version that works for you and your honey.

The milk carton may be removed a few times but not all the time. You may even have to continue to remind your partner of it because leaving the carton is what comes naturally to the other person…for better or for worse.

Mom told me she has learned from experience not to let things fester and go unsaid. This also plays into my mentor, Rhonda Shasteen's, advice, which is to deal with conflict as soon as possible because it only gets worse when left with time. When you let things build up, they very likely blow up.

I think most of us have been in the blow up before to know it really is best if avoided. With a little bit of discipline and foresight to address the uncomfortable situation, you can choose to take my mom's advice to not let things fester. You can!