Marriage.

An institution that possibly dates back thousands of years and a thousand years ago, this joining of two lives meant something completely different than it does today. Then, it meant binding a woman to her husband forever regardless of her wants. Today, it is the joining of two people who hold a respect and love for each other. However, the institution of marriage is beginning to become a thing of the past due to divorce rates skyrocketing, the enormous hookup culture present today, and many people believing they don’t have to prove their love for each other with a piece of paper.

I think those points are incredibly valid and are fantastic ways to look at it, but that is not the route I want to take. Here’s why.

Growing up, I always daydreamed of finding that perfect man and settling down with him for the rest of my life. Obviously, as I grew older, that dream changed a little. I no longer hope to find the perfect man, but more so the perfect one for me. I realize that I may not even find him someday. I have also grown to realize that marriage in a relationship does not have to be the end all be all. If I truly love someone and they don’t want to marry me, I can accept that and just be happy being with them. However, marriage still remains to be something I look forward to in the future.

Many people believe that if you are living together, what’s the point of putting a ring on it? For my personal beliefs, the commitment to joining your lives together legally is a statement saying, “I want to join you, support you, and love you in all aspects”. Can you do all of this without getting married? Absolutely. However, for me personally, marriage is that for me.

In a marriage, you are showing a level of commitment and faithfulness that is admirable. When I do join my life with someone through marriage, it will be me saying to them, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, start a family, and live a happy life with you”. It will be hard work and there will be countless bumps in the road, but if it is truly something special, it will be worth it. I want to be with someone who is willing to stick it out. I am willing to compromise and willing to make it work.

I hope one day to find a man who I can share this bond with. You could say that I am naïve. I am a nineteen-year-old girl who has a lot to learn about life. However, regardless of that, I do think marriage is not a hopeless and redundant notion.

Overall, I simply believe in love and the joining of two people who want to spend the rest of their lives together. I won’t blame this notion on the fact that I am a traditionalist or that I am conventional because that isn’t it at all. It is just something I believe in and hope for. I know I am not the only one out there. Somewhere, there has to be someone as naïve as me, willing to take that leap no matter how pointless others may think it is.

I don’t think marriage is pointless. I think it is worth searching and fighting for.