So maybe "bliss" is a bit of a stretch especially to those who know us well and have walked through the trials and tribulations of matrimony. This past weekend we did celebrate 16 years since we said "I Do". Has it been easy? No way. Would we say it again? You bet.
In a world of an alarming divorce rate and a general disdain for marriage itself I'd like to post some encouraging facts about getting hitched. Recently I stumbled upon an article by a woman named Carol Fox titled, "18 Cheers for Marriage". Carol has been married for over fifty years so I have no problem believing or taking advice from someone who has stuck it out and still has a positive outlook after half a century. In honor of my anniversary I'm sharing the top 16 "cheers" below.
1. Marriage promotes good mental health: there is less stress and more confidence that comes with companionship - someone to talk things over with. With the extra help comes a new contentment. At the very least it frees you from the pressure of finding someone to spend your life with!
2. Marriage improves physical health: a good diet, regular meal times and improved sleeping habits prolong life. With another person concerned, you're more likely to keep doctors' appointments, take prescribed medication and discuss findings. With a good and faithful partner chances of disease from promiscuity are greatly reduced.
3. Marriage looks after your emotional health: with a new stability in life, positive virtues such as loyalty and courage develop. Marriage gives an opportunity for love's full expression and for that emotional strength to grow. Of course, negative emotions like jealousy and anger still arise but they have a better chance of being resolved.
4. Marriage brings out the best in an individual: you grow together in patience, understanding, unselfishness and perseverance. You just can't do that with a cat.
5. Marriage develops character through obligations and responsibilities.
6. Marriage equals true friendship: one of the big advantages of a lasting, committed relationship is having someone you can really let go with and be yourself around - because you know they'll still be there tomorrow.
7. Marriage promotes economic stability: making budgets, saving, discussing spending and setting priorities - all this is easier when you are accountable to another person. When you make decisions together, there is less impulsive spending. That's why married families are the most prosperous.
8. Marriage promotes personal fulfillment and productivity: it enhances the creative abilities of each, because necessity is the mother of invention and with the division of labor more is accomplished.
9. Marriage is a living organism: the unified entity of marriage, "the two becoming one," affords an opportunity to participate in something much larger than "my own life." This makes the simple tasks of everyday life exponentially more exciting.
10. To each marriage there are moral, social and political implications: it takes you out of your own small world and into a larger one. Each marriage affects life profoundly and eventually helps create a more cohesive society. Marriages make history, but it all begins by making another person's happiness important to you.
11. Marriage encourages and expands the scope of your interests, many of which may be shared, whether hobbies, sports or pastimes, or, more importantly, involvement in community affairs, charitable or educational organizations, and religious life.
12. Marriage is the best environment for the raising of children. It makes its mark on the next generation.
13. Marriage creates a family lineage, putting you in touch with those who went before and those yet to come. Through marriage you are connected to ancestors and become the carriers of a tradition.
14. Marriage creates a social unit, encompassing friends, extended family, neighbors, friends of the children, etc. One builds a home where that unit can flourish.
15. Marriage develops compassion for others. It gives plentiful opportunity to protect and nurture, to surrender our desires at times, and to be present and just caring.
16. Marriage gives direction and spirit to our lives.
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3 Responses to “16 years of wedded bliss....”
Congratulations on 16 and thank you for sharing inspiring words about marriage. I also realized that I've known you for 17 years now. Yikes! We're old!
Happy Anniversary & Congratulations!!!
Its so odd. I just woke up this morning with a great dream. I saw my family reuniting in one big event which seemed to be for my mom and dad getting back together. It was a white room with sparklers and and men dancing is wedding suits. The song playing was [Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up]. I felt the happiness in my spirit and I could feel my dad's happiness to, about getting back with my mother and leaving his current relationship. And then in the backgroung a voice said, "16 years, 16 cheers...." and suddenly woke up. At first it sounded like a verse from the bible, and so I opened up my bible to see if it would bring me to a page about my dream, because I know that God was trying to tell me something. I didn't quite find what I was looking for but I felt the need to search through the net and possibly find something relating to my dream with that verse. And now here I am writing to you, I don't even know who you are, but what a coincidence. Marriages seem to fail around me and from my past generations from long ago, even with my sister who is 4 years older than me. I believe marriage should be taken seriously. I'm only 21 but I worry about putting my trust in men because I have no trust just by seeing what I see around me. But this dream and your webpage gave me hope to believe that love still exists in marriages. I am so proud for those who stay married from the beginning to the end. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words of hope and wisdom of love and commitment. Everyday I want to adapt myself to thinking positive about life everyday, and your message has helped me to see that marriage is truly a amazing experience in life! I hope some day soon my Mr. Right will come along. I will share your blog with my sister and her husband, and to many of those who need to know what marriage is about because a lot of people these days don't take their vows seriously. Have a wonderful day because I know I will too!
Sincerily, Beatrice
(bdetorres@hotmail.com)
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