Whose Quirk Is It, Anyway?

I posted a few months ago about taking some time off from the wedding planning and working on the marriage. I have to say that I've (We've) been very successful! It's so nice to not think wedding all the time!
Greg and I have taken a little advice from two of the happiest couples we know. First, we are doing a little marriage counseling through my church with Deacon Rich (who will be marrying us). Even though it is required of us to be married in the church, it is also very very good to talk through things with an outside source. Deacon Rich has been an enormous help! Second, we are reading through some books on marriage. I've borrowed a few, but one that I got myself is "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love." I was a little sceptical because it's such a known title. It however has been super helpful as well!
One (of many) things we have taken from this book is..."Ask the Question: Whose Quirk Is This, Anyway?" In this excerpt the author talks about a woman who, newly married, got herself a fresh towel every morning before her shower. And every morning her groom would use the towel, and she would end up dripping to the linen closet to get another towel. Of course she was on the verge of an emotional meltdown, while her husband was thinking what a sweet wife he had to get him a towel every morning. Clearly some miscommunication as well as some quirks. Solution...get two towels out of the closet to begin with.
So...Greg and I have started to work through some of our quirks by using this example. Greg leaves the toothpaste on the counter every night instead of placing it back in the medicine cabinet. Makes me crazy! But...whose quirk is it anyway? I could get mad- but in the end he was simply thinking he was leaving it out for me because I hadn't used it yet. SO, before getting mad...now we try to stop and realize no one is at fault. Combining our family traditions has been a struggle. As I hear it is for all couples. I rinse pasta after draining, Greg does not. Greg likes Cincinnati Chili, I do not. I like to sleep with the TV on, Greg does not. Before, we would just got upset with each other for doing things differently, but we are working on combining lives. And learning they're just quirks!

8 months down, 8 months to go!!! <3