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Life events have a way of sneaking up on you.
From the very first day of school, to the night of your graduation, milestones have a way of creeping up on us all too soon. For many of us, these occasions are often punctuated by moments of keen awareness.
Awareness that you’ve reached a stage that signifies the birthing of something new... that you’re ready for a new challenge, a new phase in your life or maybe just a whole new adventure in general.
For example, do you remember the first time you knew or felt that you were finally ready to settle down and get married? What was that moment for you?
Here are the first of our reader responses:
Charmaine
I was the “party girl”, always clubbing or going out somewhere to have fun with my friends. I wasn’t looking for love. When I was 26 years old I met someone that was from another country and another religion.
I was very attracted to him and wanted only him. Five months later we were married. After nine years and two kids together, he still rocks my world.
Mandy
Amazingly, it was when I was 18 years old. I had met my husband at 16, he was 18. We moved in together very fast and had a baby the following year.
In 1994, my son was about seven months old and we were discussing the fact that even though we took the toughest path as teenagers, we were both incredibly happy and in love.
We decided then and there that we were ready to tie the knot, simply because we wanted to, not because we had to due to our baby.
We're celebrating our 21st anniversary in September and are still happy and in love. I'm not saying it was all sunshine and roses, but this rollercoaster is the best ride I could have ever wished for.
Anisha
In the year 2000 I was involved in a horrific car accident which claimed the life of someone I loved. I fell into an abyss of despair and realised that maybe I was not destined to love again.
On a fateful day in June 2002, on the same day of my accident, my best friend begged me to go out for dinner with her. Little did I know that she had set me up on a blind date.
Well, we were late and when I walked into the restaurant I made eye contact with a gorgeous man. I was unaware that he was, in fact, my friend’s date. Well, let’s just say, we got along so well because we had nothing in common with each other.
Six months later we got hitched without anyone knowing. We hailed from different cultures and he was older than me so our families would have never agreed.
How did I know that he was the one? Apart from the butterflies and the dire need to see him, I found someone who I wanted to grow old with. Someone who would laugh at my corny jokes and would love me just the way I am. That is special.
My gut feeling was right as we have been together for 10 years and are still going strong. We rely on each other yet we have different goals to accomplish. We share a partnership, yet we are truly united.
That is what a relationship ought to be about. Infatuation eventually fades but true companionship with love lasts.
When did you first realise that you were ready to settle down and get married? Tell us in the comment box below.
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