I don’t think I am any smarter or mature than any other 19 year-old. I don’t believe I am any more ignorant than any 40 year-old. What difference does it make of my age if I am married at 19 or 35? At 15, I had committed myself to a goal of obtaining a career as a graphic designer. By 16 years-old, I had already invested  into helping my husband develop his freelancing business. At 18, I was already surpassing others who were established years before I could even walk. Today at 19, I co-own a successful, and still upcoming graphic design and web development studio with my husband. If I can do what it takes to make things in my life a reality, who can judge me for committing to someone I love?

No, I don’t know what the future holds. However, the same can be said about the car you just bought or the company you just invested in. Nothing is guaranteed to you in this life. Why am I still receiving judgment from other people about my marital status? The one thing that holds no value to my character or the potential I carry.

I believe the thing I hate most is that being a Christian and marrying young, everyone assumes it’s to justify some type of virginity issue. Do I look ignorant enough to sign to commit to someone else because I have raging hormones? That’s ridiculous. Why is it so hard to believe that we both made this decision based on our goals and level of respect in our relationship.
My second favorite assumption is that I’m with child or have a child. I don’t think there is anything wrong with people getting married due to pregnancy. However, it’s not why I got married. Why can’t anyone ask? Why are there always those two assumptions? What is even more ridiculous is that people are bold enough to approach you with these ideologies.

So to answer the question, why did I get married at my age? It was a mutual agreement based on the commitment, career goals, and life goals my husband and I share. Oh, also because he asked. ;)

I believe this post was long enough, too long for me to cover the next part of this series: What is Being in Love Like for You? So, for those married people, why did you get married? For those who are planning to someday, why would you like to get married? Also for those of you who never want to get married, why not?

What Does Love Mean?

I believe this would be the time to insert a dictionary definition so let’s do that.

–noun

1.	a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2.	a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

3.	sexual passion or desire.

4.	a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.

5.	(used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?

6.	a love affair; an intensely amorous incident; amour.

7.	sexual intercourse; copulation.

8.	(initial capital letter) a personification of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.

9.	affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one’s neighbor.

10.	strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.

11.	the object or thing so liked: The theater was her great love.

12.	the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.

13.	Chiefly Tennis. a score of zero; nothing.

14.	a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.

–verb (used with object)

15.	to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her.

16.	to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person).

17.	to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.

18.	to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.

19.	to embrace and kiss (someone), as a lover.

20.	to have sexual intercourse with.

My thoughts on the word love is that love itself is boundless. I think one of the things that bothers me the most about society is that we can take something that is so powerful and attempt to put boundaries on it. Who are we to judge people who have created these feelings for each other? I have no right to tell anyone that they cannot express their love, yet the astigmatisms we have in society place boundaries on a boundless emotion. Love is so strong and full of devotion. Love makes people do strange things. Love is powerful, boundless affection.

Love Hurts

Also known as, “F*CK LOVE”

Why is it that we as people continue to develop these emotions for people who cause pain? Humans are imperfect and always will be. We will always be flawed. Why do you we create such an emotional attachment to other imperfect people? The problem with love is that the pain love causes is unlike any other pain you will feel in your life. I’m not just talking about bad relationships. I’m talking about the love you experience for everyone. You love your mother deeply. If she passes away, the pain you feel is unlike any other pain you will feel in your life. Emotional longing and distress for those we love never goes away. You may come to terms with the situation, but if you are hurt by love, there will always be a scar.

I will give you a personal case study. I invested over five years into a friendship with a person who did not respect the people who loved them. It was as if the more love a person had to my “friend”, the less important that person became to my “friend”. Why did I continue investing in a friendship, placing my emotions and concerns towards this person? I foolishly believed that this person cared as much about me as a person as I did for them. Of course I was wrong. The pain I carried from the dismantlement of that friendship still holds today.

The problem with love is that while it’s wonderful, it hurts. The pain that love causes can create the inability to love again. Love is just that powerful, huh?

You Are Too Young To Know Love

Also known as, “Why are you married so young?”

I love my friend, she specifically told me to address this issue. How many of you swore you were in love with someone in elementary school? I know I did. My first Kindergarten crush was this guy, we’ll call him JS to save his identity or mines for that matter. (Who still remembers this stuff?) Anyway, I’m pretty sure everyone in the elementary school knew I was “head over heels (or loafers)” for this kid. Poor kid. I never told him but he obviously knew. What do five year-olds know about keeping secrets?

However, that year on Valentine’s Day (1996) I got sick. I woke up with a fever. I was probably puking. I tried as hard as I could to get to school, but my mom wasn’t having it. I was ruined. I would never be able to give the love of my 5 year-old life his special Power Rangers valentine. That afternoon, my cousins who were five grades ahead of me, brought home all of my valentines the other kids gave me.  Alas, as I went through them I found a pink Power Rangers valentine from him. I was in love! I planned our lives together. We would married after college. We would ride bikes during the summer. Our future was set.

To make a long story short, I haven’t seen that kid since the last day of K-5. After I fell in love with a kid in cowboy boots in second grade, he was history. If our mentality to care about someone is so short, why do we commit to lifetime monogamous relationships with other people? Can we possibly love one person for an entire lifetime?

I know this article is long enough so I’ll continue it this week! Please be sure to visit back because I have a lot to say about being 19 and married. What are your thoughts?

Celebrate My 20th with a Bang!

This year my birthday is on a Sunday (April 4th! Hello Aries!) and I would like to do a nice weekend getaway, perhaps to Miami. I have traveled on my birthday before, with family, but I’d like to do a weekend with my husband. I won’t be a teen anymore  so I want to say hello to my adulthood in style.

An Amazing Apartment

I have been actively apartment/condo searching for the past year almost. Ideally I would like to stay within the Orlando area. Last year I found a great little place with cheap rent for the amenities it had (granite counter-tops, amazing cabinets, new black appliances, great bathroom, French doors, and more). However, it was out in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t mind and I ideally would have loved to stay there. However, on Saturday, we looked at a great place near all the major highways and only five minutes from Celebration. I had really great feelings about it. It had the same amazing features for the same price. I won’t say too much but I really see myself settled there! Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

My First Car

I’m working on it! My husband and I currently share his 09 Scion TC but I think it’s time for me to venture out on my own and get a car. I really love two cars right now:

Lexus RX 350

Infiniti G37

Don’t worry, I’m not the one buying! I can only wish my pockets were that deep. I do think I’d prefer the Lexus over the Infiniti but we all have dreams. Regardless of whatever car I get, as long as it’s in great condition, I’ll be excited!

To be a University Student

College here I come! I graduated almost three years ago and it’s about time I set foot into University. I actually had been accepted into two schools last year but I didn’t want to relocate away from my husband (then fiance) and also they didn’t have courses I wanted to take. This year, I’m buckling down and starting at least one class. I would love to enroll full-time for the fall at UCF. I can see it and I’ll make it happen!

To Travel the Country

Last year we did a bit of travelling (Sarasota and Atlanta). However, this year I want to visit three places for sure: Miami, Tampa, and Savannah. I’ve never been to Miami or Tampa so I think it’s only fair to be a “Floridian” and visit. I would love to possibly take a trip to St. Augustine as well. I want to share Savannah with my husband because it’s my favorite city on earth. I cannot wait to plan out a fall trip there. There’s just so much history and it’s a beautiful place to be.

The Honeymoon I Never Had

We never took an “official” honeymoon so this year, for our anniversary, I’d like to reward ourselves with a honeymoon. They do say the first year of marriage is the hardest and I want to make our anniversary special. I have no idea where I would honeymoon to but hopefully it’s somewhere that’s warm in October.

A New Laptop

My laptop killed three A/C adapters in its three years of life. It’s safe to say that I need to invest in a new one. I’m doing a lot more working this year than I have last and going to school, I’ll need a reliable piece of equipment! I’m looking at an custom-build HP DV6t running Windows 7. I just want something that will get me through my hard workdays.

My Life is NOT the Hills.

I would like less personal drama. You can’t live life without having some negativity. However, I would like to be rid of very negative people. I want to spend more time with peace and joy in my heart. The sooner I get rid of those people, the better.

I’m an adult! See?

I guess I would enjoy for everyone to view me as a young adult and not a kid anymore. I’m working on my personal branding image and even though I am young and enjoy youth, I would like to be viewed as a professional and equal as well.

An Amazing Best Friend

This isn’t really a goal, but more of a want. I hope to be able to invest in a great friendship with someone, other than my husband. After being burned by my ex-best friend of three years last year, I want to end the year believing in someone.

Those are just a few of the long-term goals that I am working on for this year. What are some things you personally want to achieve? How are you working towards them?

The last shot is my favorite, featuring my wonderful husband. What are some of your favorite places to visit and take pictures?

1.) The toilet paper usage formula. 1 sixteen pack of toilet paper will last a single person with one bathroom upwards of four months. 1 sixteen pack of toilet paper will last two people, with two bathrooms the blink of an eye. I can not count how many times I’ve had to do the awkward waddle over to the cabinet only to find that we were completely out of toilet paper. This may be the most irritating thing in the universe.

I’m the toilet paper abuser. I was just opening a new roll a few minutes ago. LOL I don’t think he’s quite accustomed to my toilet paper usage.

2) Meal times are weird when one person is indecisive and another one has a mutant ability to exist for days without food (coughtheboyforgetstoeatcough). If we haven’t decided what to have for dinner by six o’clock, it’s a free for all. Hence I’ve had meals made up of noodles and applesauce, cereal and cookies, and an entire jar of pickles.

My husband eats late at night, and eats in strange patterns. I don’t know if all men are like that, but I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I even have an occasional cookie here and there. It just seems like he never eats? Perhaps, I’m always asleep when he’s eating. We do eat together a lot more since we’ve been married though.

5) Sometimes, all you need to do is ask. In relation to chores, wants, desires, etc. Just ask.

It took me a while to learn that…

6) Date nights are essential. Dates nights outside the house. With “going out clothes”. And a sit down destination. And booze. Gotta have the booze.

Yes, without the booze though. I’m good.

7) The moments you love the most are the moments you’d never expect. Like trying desperately to keep your feet from being unmericilessly tickled during commercial breaks of Glee.

So true!

8.) No one can read your mind. Period. Even when you’re sure that they MUST know that you HATE what when they do that….they probably don’t. Unless you said so. Speak up.

I believe this is said a million times a week.

10) It’s the little things that mean the most. Love grows in the moments of tiny sacrifices and minute kindness. Like splitting the last cookie or traipsing out in the cold to fetch something unimportant from the car.

It’s always the little things that bring us together.