Ten Years Ago

Ten years ago, I met the love of my life.

I met a reflection of myself - a reflection of every piece of me that was who I was. By reflection, I don’t mean we were exactly alike. We were alike in all the ways that mattered the most. We both loved our family and we both were compassionate and giving. We both saw the value in keeping a neat home and we both saw the value in taking care of what we had. We were a reflection of each other’s underlying values. Beyond that, we were quite different from each other – we each had talents in different areas of life and living. We had our own types and libraries of knowledge. What I have learned over the past years, is that we not only found each other to love, but we each found our missing part. We were great on our own, but as a team we are our greatest; we bring out the best in each other.

Pretending that we never had disagreements would be a lie. I believe our love has lasted because we love each other enough to talk to each other until we understand each other. Over the last ten years, we have never stopped talking. When we disagree on something, we talk until we reach an understanding – no matter how late it is, or how long it takes. We are each human beings with different pasts, giving us different ways of looking at the world. These differences can be a good thing – they can teach the other person a perspective they may not have considered before. Disagreements don’t have to be fights – they can be productive discussions that bring you closer together as a couple. The more discussions you have with each other through life, the more your paths move toward each other. When you have these discussions, you are talking with your partner- your teammate. Love is not about competition. It isn’t about winning – it is about understanding and growing closer to each other.

Ten years later, I can’t help but smile whenever we are together. Each time we hold hands, I have an inner scream of joy. Each time we hug, I never want to let go. I close my eyes and feel an indescribable happiness – I feel exactly where I need to be.

Ten years ago, I fell in love with a kind soul. I fell in love with a beautiful mind and a caring heart. And over the years, though I didn’t think it was possible, our love continues to grow even deeper.

Love has nothing to do with finances. Love has nothing to do with looks. Love is about the soul – it is about personality.

I am grateful more than words can express for our love. It was a pleasant surprise; an unexpected gift that I will always cherish.

Happy 10 year anniversary @timcliff :)