32 by 32: Marriage

I started thinking about approaching 30 and I started reflecting on my life, where it was going, what had happened so far and how did I see the next ten years panning out? I started thinking about this probably much too close to actually turning 30.

A couple of my friends and I were having a chat about all of this, and chatting about our thoughts on turning 30 - what it meant to us, how we felt and how achieved we were for this time in our lives. A couple of us decided to do a 30 things we wanted to do before 30 list. I wanted to extend mine out to 32, and do 32 things before I turn 32. Two reasons, the first being things I wanted to do I wasn't ever going to be able to do before 30 with having a wedding in the middle to pay for. And second, 32 has always been the age I thought of as the scary grown-up age.



One of the things that was on my list was to get married. As readers of this blog will know I have been very happily married coming up to two years now. D and I met each other as high school students and started dating when we were only 17 and 18. We got engaged at 26 and married at 28, and it is without a doubt one of the best things I have ever done with my life.

D and I have put a lot into our relationship, spending four years of it living in separate countries. As so many relationships facing long distance difficulties can do, we didn't grow apart but instead grew even closer together. We made a point of ensuring we were in touch and spending time together where we could. This laid the most solid ground for a wonderful marriage, which we have been lucky enough to enjoy now for two years nearly.

Marriage has always been an important step I wanted to take in my life, and I knew that when I married I wanted it to be a partnership, a friendship and the most valuable thing in my life, which it has become. I wanted a partner in all parts of my life, someone who really understood and accepted me for exactly who I am. Someone I could travel with, see the world with. Someone I can laugh with and joke with, and cry with, someone I can grow with. Someone to share my passions, and someone to hold my hand through everything. I found that, and so much more, in my husband. I am biased, but I'm also pretty sure he's the best man that has ever walked on this earth. AND.... he's pretty hot. Marriage means partnership, acceptance, fun, pure love, support, warmth, growth and happiness.

The first thing on my list was a success.

1. To get married.