When I met my husband he totally wasn’t my type. I mean, he was a teacher, casual dresser, funny, musician, and a writer. I always thought I wanted the corporate man – a man who traveled for work, the ‘rich’ man, a serious, romantic man, an older man who would rescue me and look after me.  However, the universe had different plans for me. My core was stronger than all the outer layers, and what I thought I wanted was actually not what was best for me at all.

photo by Bard Azima

You see, Sean did rescue me in a sense except it was harder than what I expected. He has made me stand up for myself. Has taught me to fight back and to live a life that is simple and fulfilling. He has held my hand while I struggled with career choices. He’s always there to wipe my tears when I desperately miss my family and can’t bare to be apart for another day. He nurses me back to health and always gives me the most thoughtful gifts. Any man can walk into Tiffany’s and buy the latest and trendiest bracelet but very few would take a beading class to make you a necklace with a coin from a previous vacation spot because he knows that’s exactly what you would want.

I was always told not to marry for love – that love would come later. Marry for security and status and you will be happy. It never made sense to me. Marrying without love was like trying to eat when there was no food. However, now I understand what was meant by this sentiment. Marriage is hard. Raising kids together is even harder. Life in general can be tough. But I still don’t agree. I’m grateful I married for love. We don’t have a big house, we don’t drive a fancy car, we eat at home almost every night, I don’t have a cleaning lady and I don’t have a pair of Jimmy Choos. What I do have is this: a husband who loves me just as I am, a house, a reliable and comfortable car, delicious home cooked meals with my family every night and a husband who helps with all the chores and never complains if the house is unkempt.

Sean may not be the corporate man who travels the world for work. He doesn’t wear Armani suits (although when he does he’s mighty sexy) and I wouldn’t say he’s rich.  But he is a man that is home every night to eat dinner with his family, bathes his girls and helps tuck them in. He is honest, patient, educated, well traveled, amazing with his children and is extremely ‘rich’ with life experiences.

Why wasn’t a funny man on my list of ‘The Perfect Man.’? A funny man is the best kind of man. Sean has this gift to lighten up any mood and to make everyone laugh. This characteristic is invalubale in a marriage. Thanks to love and marriage today in the here and now, we are blissfully happy.

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