5 Years IS Something to Brag About

Not that many years ago if you told someone you were married for 5 years you would get a simple congratulations and that would be all. But today, 5 years is something to brag about…especially with a good, healthy, loving marriage that is only getting stronger by the day. Chris and I hit our 5 year mark yesterday. July 7, 2006 in Springfield, VT we got married at a small Victorian bed & breakfast in front of our immediate families, my grandma and my best friend. It was small, it was intimate, it was low-key, it was perfect. But one thing is for sure, it was just a day. Yes, an important day, but it breaks my heart when I see couples so focused on getting engaged and planning the wedding and not on building the foundations for a great marriage. Because honestly, marriage is stinkin hard. There are so many things working against you that taking a year (or 2) to plan a party and daydream about a dress is just asking for immediate problems.

Now don’t get me wrong, Chris and I are far from perfect. But we’re perfect for each other…and working on the things that aren’t perfect. It’s so important to keep marriage in the front of your mind at all times. The things you do and think about are either working towards your success or deterring from it. Sure the results aren’t right away, but the habits you build and things you justify now will build and build and overflow at some point. Communication is key and marriage has taught me that i’m HORRIBLE at communicating. I like tucking things away inside my head for no one to get to. I have the ability to forget but not forgive. I can be the queen of not saying what I mean and expecting my husband to just know what to do. Let’s be honest, most men don’t know what to do instinctively. They’re just not wired that way. So women need to learn to communicate in a way they understand. And at least for me, it doesn’t come natural. But that’s the fun thing about marriage. There is always something to be working on. No one has it all figured out and there won’t be a point where all is good forever and ever. Sure you may live happily ever after…but it’s because you’re creating it day by day with your partner.

So as I spend my day excited and getting ready for our anniversary date night tonight, here is my favorite topic on marriage, spoken about in a fun way. It explains why you ALWAYS need to be building your relationship…men and women are just too different to ever think you have it all figured out. Enjoy!