Marriage

My most memorable rite of passage is marriage. It has changed the perception I have always had of myself because I now understand that I have someone who is responsible for me, and I am responsible for them. It has also changed my relationships with other people and friends of the opposite sex, in particular. In this respect, the friendships have become radically different as they remain platonic unlike before the marriage. I do not find myself flirting anymore with these people. Moreover, I have also noticed a major change in where I pass my free time and meet new friends. Nowadays, I interact with new people at my workplace, neighbourhood and through civic obligations. It is contrary to my previous experiences since, before the marriage, I got acquaintances at dance competitions, house parties, drinking sprees, and night outs.
Other people also perceive me differently. This change is reflected in a particular treatment that I did not notice before. Even the strangers I interact with demonstrate a certain level of respect as soon as they realize that I am a family person. Some see the ring that I wear whereas others ask casually whether I am buying something for my significant other. Similarly, even though marriage changes who you are inside, it can also redefine your presentation to the outside world, and this transformation can be profound. It is attributable to the fact that marriage is a public act of faith, hope and optimism. The other thing is that marriage instils some degree of responsibility on someone because they have to take care of their partners irrespective of the situations encountered and do everything possible to preserve love, respect and understanding, thus make their marriage work.
Marriage has also changed my circle of communication. I pass less time with my single friends. They are always looking for new encounters, and it gives us a difference in what we are aiming at. This aspect shows that I relate to them differently now. Another important change I have undergone after the marriage is that I learnt to work differently, and it pleases me. I feel that everything I do is for both of us. I feel important and needed, which gives me the strength to work even more intensively. Moreover, I cannot act following my selfish desires anymore. However, in any marriage, it is extremely important to have a partner who encourages you to do better and supports your hopes and aspirations. Therefore, in its essence, marriage is a symbol of commitment to one person and the ability to refuse from selfishness and devote oneself to the family.
Marriage is an important rite of passage that reaffirms a person’s readiness to change. It makes partners become a unit because people from “me” turn into “we”, which is reflected in their perception of the world as well as of their selves.
More posts written by Robert Ferguson read at https://essayswriters.com/essays/Analysis/behind-the-formaldehyde-curtain.html.