Thoughts on Marriage...

While Steve, Soph and I were living in Utah it dawned on me that we were living my dream. I felt like Steve's teaching at the high school was a service calling, I was involved with a few non-profits in the community and volunteering at Soph's school and Sophie had the experience of being a minority and learning what all of that entailed. I also remember realizing that it probably wasn't as fulfilling for Steve as it was for me.

Steve loved his job teaching in Utah, but I knew there was a part of him that wanted to be back in a college setting. I see how happy he is now and again, I think he was happy in Utah, but it's a different type of fulfillment for him here, another challenge.

What do you do when one spouse wants to be in one geographical location and one needs to be in another? I think both Steve and I will carry Utah in our hearts, but he has adapted to our lives in Michigan, because he has found fulfillment. I know I can too, but it makes me think of my friends who have dealt with this - choosing to live in one spouse's preferred town/state/country.

Marriage is a partnership that spans many years, which means it will inevitably bring changes to both people and sometimes those changes just don't match up. I can see how life would be simpler in many ways if I just sought my own fulfillment, lived where I wanted to live, did what I wanted to do, but life isn't about easy and marriage isn't either - it's about a commitment to something that is continually growing - just as one does in life.