25 years.
Anniversaries are moments to reflect. There is so much I am grateful for over the past 25 years. Here's a quick list:
- Growing up together. We got married young. It wasn't the plan, it wasn't the goal, but it was the path we chose. As a result, we got to grow up together. We entered adulthood together. Our stories have been intertwined for almost as long as either of us can remember. I am grateful for that.
- Shared activities. We love doing so many of the same things. That doesn't always mean that we do them together... but we sure do a lot of skiing and biking and camping together! I love that our hobbies overlap, so that we get to spend time doing things we love with people we love.
- Learning to respect our differences. We are very different people with different personalities, motivations, and priorities. It took a while, and this is still a lesson I'm learning, but we have learned to respect our differences and the person the other is and is becoming. We have very different strengths and weaknesses. That doesn't change our individual responsibilities to grow, but to that individual growth we get to add complementary styles and strengths. We are better together.
- Supporting each other's dreams. I could not have experienced the workplace, personal, and academic success that I've seen without Steve's support. He has believed in me, given me freedom to set my own priorities, and made space for me to pursue my independent goals. Thank you for respecting, valuing, and supporting my ever-evolving, ever-escalating dreams!
- Making sound financial decisions early. We worked so, so hard early in our marriage to make good financial decisions. We saved, lived within our means, invested, and sacrificed (while still having a ton of fun). I do not take for granted the blessings and hard work that set us on a solid financial foundation early on. And I am grateful for the flexibility we experience now and in the future as a result of that foundation.
- A shared commitment to do the work. All relationship is hard work, marriage even more so. Over the years we have learned to do the work and honor our commitment. And we have even grown (sometimes) to enjoy the work of learning from each other and about each other, applying new skills and getting curious about what makes the other tick. I am thankful that year after year we choose to learn to do marriage better.
- Enjoying hanging out together. I am so grateful for a partner I love to hang out with. And not just because he lets me win at cards.
It's been 25 years and I think we're starting to figure this marriage thing out. Give us another 50 years and we'll be pros. We are not the same people we fell in love with. We are deeper and more flawed and richer and more beautiful than we could have imagined as teenagers. I am privileged to be on this journey. Thanks for an exceptional quarter century, Babe.
