There are so many names for marriage: legal slavery, ball and chain or just “a piece of paper.” Whatever your stance on marriage, it can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding commitments a person could ever make. However, most young people shy away from marriage in their twenties; many millennials choose to start their families in their thirties or even forties. But why wait to get married?
Here’s why marriage can be one of the most rewarding endeavors of your life.
Have you ever stayed at a friend’s house for a sleepover and then dreaded going home? Well, marriage it’s pretty much a constant sleepover. You get to watch movies together, eat popcorn, laugh and then kiss each other goodnight, knowing you don’t have to leave ever again.
If you’re in your twenties, you most likely haven’t completely figured out who you are yet. But when you’re married and still trying to figure out the world, you have someone very close to you doing the same thing. As a couple, you are intertwined, enabling you to rely on each other and learn from each other.
No matter how similar you are to your spouse, he or she is still a different person. As a married couple, you will start seeing the differences in the way you think, communicate, impart values or express minuscule preferences. You may like your toilet paper to go over and your spouse might prefer under. Either way, you’re in a better place to compromise and adjust in your twenties than any other time because you’re not so set in your ways yet. Change – in both yourself and your spouse – is still very possible.
Communication is very important in any relationship. When you are married, you are sure to have misunderstandings and fights. But learning to communicate and resolve differences is an essential skill that you can apply to relationships with your mother, your friends or even your boss. In your twenties, there are more opportunities for you to use this skill at an earlier time, thus paving the way for a smoother marriage in the future.
Many women tend to guard their hearts as if they are precious glass statues. With marriage, that’s no longer a requirement. You have already given your heart to the worthy heart of your partner. When you get married, you can give your whole heart to him or her and rest assured knowing he or she is doing the same to you.
When your boss scolds you at work, when you’re driving home and a driver cuts you off or when someone steps on your foot and doesn’t apologize it can seem like the whole world is against you. When you get frustrated, you can go home and talk to your spouse. You know you shouldn’t get angry but your spouse understands. He will be waiting for you with open arms.
With all these avenues for dating like Tinder, Facebook, Hot or Not and Bumble the dating world can be overwhelming. You’re trying to impress the other person with not only your looks but your personality. In marriage, especially in your twenties, you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Your spouse knows just how crazy you are. You don’t have to try to impress him; he already knows and loves everything about you.
How many times have magazines, TV shows, movies or even your friends told you to be coy but not too coy, sweet but not too sweet, seductive but not slutty. Marriage will put an end to all that; it is a space where you can be honest with your partner about what you’re feeling and what you actually want. No more games. Unless you both like UNO.
Opening up to anyone can be difficult – you don’t want to get hurt and you certainly don’t want anyone to misuse or abuse your vulnerabilities. One of the great things about marriage is that you don’t have to hide your inner self anymore. Make no mistake, opening up can still be very difficult. However, marriage will make it easier since you’ve already committed your lives to each other.
This is one of the most satisfying aspects of marriage in your twenties. You can still be riddled with insecurities, but no matter what they are, your spouse already loves you in spite of them. Maybe he or she loves you because of them. Because you’re young, you will grow and change over time, but that shouldn’t intimidate you. Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing and your partner will love you no matter who you become.
As good as marriage can be, know that it is never perfect. It doesn’t magically fix your problems; instead, they just come out more often. But because you have a commitment from your soulmate to love and cherish you the rest of your lives, your problems are suddenly easier to bear. Positive communication, affirmation, patience and understanding are the keys to fostering a healthy marriage. If you have all those things, marriage will get better every day.
In your twenties, that means you have more time to foster – and enjoy – a successful marriage.
