Marriage…Maybe?

As we all know, the internet is full of interesting facts, fiction and opinions. There is an abundance of information to be found on the World Wide Web and a few days ago as I scrolled through the internet reading various news and entertainment articles, I came across an article titled, “Don’t Let Your Boyfriend Keep You From Your Husband.” Whoever titled this article was definitely a click bait expert. So many thoughts ran through my mind as I clicked and began reading the article.

The female author described how she’d spent five years with her boyfriend and while their relationship was good, he had no plans to be married. She’d met him just after she graduated college. He was working his way up the ladder in hotel management. She was working at a law office and making plans to start her own business. Together they did very well. Each got along with the others family, they traveled as much as possible and enjoyed date nights every Friday. After two years, they moved in together. Her thoughts were that the next step would be marriage and a future together. Three and a half years later she was writing the article I was now reading.

She made the decision to leave the relationship after a conversation with her boyfriend in which he stated that he was happy with the way their relationship was and didn’t feel they needed to be married to have all the things they wanted in life. Even though, her friends saw him as a good guy and tried to convince her to give it more time, she knew more than enough time had already passed.

After reading the article, I was done surfing the internet for the day. This article made me think of my own relationship and the relationships of my friends. How long is too long to date? Personally, I’ve always been on the fence about marriage. My parents were each married four times, twice to each other. They had some good times but also some challenges I think could have been easily solved had they both not been so stubborn.

In my outer circle I do know three couples that have had only one marriage for decades that continues to this day. Then there is my inner circle. Man, I have had so many conversations with my girlfriends and guy friends on the subject of dating and marriage that I have long since come to the conclusion that marriage is not something I want to do right now…maybe not ever.

I just don’t know. I have friends that are married, not happy and basically living a life parallel to their spouse. I have friends that are not happy with their live-in situation. Then I have friends that are dating, looking for something long term and permanent. I’ve seen how we’ve all given in to our partners’ mission and dreams while fighting in the background to keep our own alive.  I get the whole point of the article in that, as women, we shouldn’t generously give away our time and sacrifice if marriage is the goal but our partner isn’t onboard. But again, how long is too long to date?

Not long after splitting with her boyfriend, the author met the man she was currently engaged to. When they began dating, he made it clear to her what his goals and life plans were. Plans that included being married. The article was a very good, thought-provoking read. I actually shared it with some of my single friends, ones I know who ultimately want to be married.

Fourteen years and counting…🙂

#Love #Family #Patience #Marriage #Hope