1. You get to share everything, including your future
All the things which you would have previously regarded as ‘yours’, such as your bathroom, your belongings, your kitchen, now become ‘ours’, and any future prospects which you might have previously been sceptical about doing alone, such as travelling, can now be shared with your significant other.
2. You’ll feel a new sense of contentment and security
Dating has a way of making you feel insecure, even if your partner frequently declares their love you. Will he ever propose? Will she say yes? Marriage moves past that stage of insecurity and ushers in a beautiful feeling of contentment and security that you know is for the long haul.
3. You witness the evolution of your partner over the years
No two people stay the same over the period of a 10, 15 or 20 year marriage. Life circumstances and experiences mould and shape an individual over time, and as life partners, you’ll have the privilege of being able to witness each other’s evolution much more closely than anybody else.
4. Intimacy goes beyond sex alone
With a 9 to 5 job, a family, house chores and handling different life events as they crop up, there may be little time for the fun sex you raved about in your younger years, and that’s ok. Intimacy may take many forms in a relationship and marriage, including finding time to talk, hugging, kissing, cuddling and being vulnerable with one another.
5. You’ve got each other’s back no matter what
No matter how badly you think you failed at your job, how insecure you feel as a parent, how guilty you feel about mistreating a friend, you can count on your partner to issue their sage advice and help you see the light again, knowing in your heart that – as long as honesty, trust and respect continue to exist between you – you’ll always have each other’s backs.
6. You can be yourself
Morning breath, letting rip while tying your shoe lace and burping after a huge meal might not be deal breakers after all. We’re not saying you should lose sight of basic manners, but marriage creates an ambience comfortable enough that allows you to be yourself, and speak your mind too without fear of breaking up.
7. You’ll make new traditions
Whether opening presents on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day or treating yourselves to something special on your anniversary each year, a new life together means you’ll be creating your own traditions and dancing to the beat of your own drum.
8. Understanding that giving is a two-way street
Loving others compels you to do more and give more than you would anyone else, and no other person gets to enjoy that privilege of receiving more than your spouse. However, you learn that giving is a two-way street, and ‘I’ and ‘My’ get replaced by ‘Us’ and ‘We’.
9. There’s always someone to celebrate with
Whether it’s a hard-earned promotion, a birthday or Christmas, there’s always someone to share the joy of that experience with. And when the occasion isn’t a happy one, you’ll find comfort in your spouse who understands and knows you better than anyone else.
10. You’re best friends
Isn’t that enough?