I recently received an email from Kristi, a new member to our club, “I wanted to let you know how encouraging your website is! I am a newlywed who has been married for a month, and it has been the best month of my life. I absolutely love marriage and my husband, and I know it will continue to get better with time. I am amazed by the number of women at work and in other places who have told me how difficult marriage is and how “the first year is the worst.” I am determined to remain a happy wife and to avoid falling into the trap of negativity towards my husband. Thank you for showing me I am not alone!”  

This note articulated exactly how I felt the first few years of my marriage.  Not long after Keith and I first said “I do” we were confronted by negative comments about marriage everywhere we turned.  I was dumbfounded by the number of friends, family members and casual acquaintances who would make comments with regard to how difficult marriage is and how once the “honeymoon phase” ends we will need to face the realities of marriage.  We heard about everything from the ‘first year blues’ to the ‘seven year itch.’  It was incredibly rare to hear someone speak encouraging words to us about lifelong love and marriage.  It was even rarer to hear the words “Happiness” and marriage used in the same sentence.  But there was at least one time I can remember and that conversation has remained with me for all our married years.

A few months after we were married, Keith and I were at a couples retreat called Dayspring.  After one of the sessions, we were riding in the crowded elevator back to our hotel room.  As usual, Keith’s arms were wrapped around my shoulders and my head was buried into his chest.  One of the women on the ride observing our affection began doing what so many had done before her, “Hold on to that.  It won’t last long…”  Before she could even finish her less-than-positive statement, a woman by the name of Pat Ashley added her two cents: “Happiness is a choice.  My husband and I have been married 29 years and we have chosen to be happy.  Every morning when we wake up we choose to enjoy our day with each other.  We choose to be happy.”  With that, she looked Keith and I square in the eyes and said, “Choose to be happy and it will last.”

Her words were heaven sent.  They were like pouring rain on the Mohave Desert.  They gave us hope that in spite of all the negative comments so often heard, there were those who still believed in the power of marriage and enjoying life as a couple until ‘death do us part’.  We determined that day in spite of all the negative connotations associated with marriage we would choose to be happy and to enjoy every moment of our life together.  It is a choice.  We made that choice and we continue to make it each and every day.

What you and I consider happiness may vary greatly.  But what we have in common is we both know what happiness means to us.  Have you made the choice to be happy in your marriage?  To enjoy every moment of your limited time together?  If not, you don’t know what you’re missing.  Happiness is a choice – so choose it!

COMMENTS: With so many Happy Wives Club members already actively engaged on our Facebook Community page, what better place to share your thoughts? Join me there and let’s continue the conversation.

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