People told me things would be different. That ring changes a lot. Even though you guys lived with each other, you will notice some changes. It's a lot of responsibility. All of these phrases were spoken to me in one form or another, a majority of which were said within a week of the big day. I knew most of what everybody was talking about, but I gotta admit, It kinda freaked me out a bit. I love Lia with my whole heart, and I knew that I was able to handle marriage--because to me it meant being able to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. But because I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to get married, when all of these statements started surfacing, I suddenly wondered Do these people know something that I don't?
Well the answer is yes and no. Yes it feels different, but only in good ways. There is more of a sense of respect in the house. Things seem lighter and easier. Perhaps it's because for the first time in a few months we are able to shut off the planning mode and be a real-life couple again. We can go on dates (we just recently saw The Town and loved it by the way), we can cook nice dinners, we can plan which TV shows we will get addicted to this season. I sense it lasting this way forever. When I look at Lia I see myself 50 years from now, probably still crudely hitting on her like I usually do. I know things will change, there will be babies, new houses, new cities, and new jobs. But I can't help but think that throughout all of those changes, it will still be Lia and me--the two kids who met in college and fell in love.
Over %50 of marriages end in divorce these days. I'm no psychologist, I haven't even been married a month. But if you ask me why, I'd have to say that a lot are because of a lack of respect. People get so wrapped up in themselves these days that it doesn't surprise me their are so many unhappily married couples. One of the best bits of advice I ever got about marriage was from my Dad. He said "In a marriage its not you give 50% and she gives 50%. You both give 100%. Your life is over when you get married, you're about to start your lives." I think that if people really truly dedicated themselves to each other, instead of just being with each other, you'd have more happily married couples.Also, you have to laugh. Life is always better when your laughing. I can't imagine married life being any different. Lia and I laugh a lot. And I have no doubt in my mind that we will be laughing together forever.
(And nothing makes me more excited.)
