“Putting a ring on it” is the modern day connotation for “jumping the broom.” Or perhaps you prefer “tying the knot?” Regardless of your linguistical preference, marriage is an institution that continues to stand the test of time for those couples who are able to navigate the courses of life.
A brief disclaimer: “For better or worse” should not burden someone with the unfathomable predicament of staying with a spouse who is verbally and/or physically abusive or who has irrevocably defiled their marital vows with chronic adultery, alcohol and drug abuse or other bad habits that make it nearly impossible to live in harmony.
Registering for your Wedding from Home
Love has a lot to do with staying power. Surprisingly, simply falling in love is not always what leads to happily ever after. Instead, the most durable marriages are built on friendships that endure the effects of aging, health and financial changes, children, pets and all of the other complex rollercoasters that we experience just by virtue of being human beings. The truth is – marriage is tough stuff. This is evident by the current U.S. divorce rate of about 39 percent.
Divorces have dropped by about 18 percent over the last 10 years. This is a promising trend, but like many modern-day connections, “it’s complicated.” Regardless of the circumstances, there is good news exclusively for married couples that may be worth checking out.
1.You have more tax breaks available. The U.S. General Accounting Office has identified a total of 1,138 provisions in the United States Code that use marital status as a factor in determining benefits, rights and privileges. Who doesn’t like maximizing their deductions?
2. Married couples accumulate more wealth. Jay Zagorsky’s 2005 report Marriage and Divorce’s Impact on Wealth found that married individuals experienced an average increase in wealth of 16 percent for each year of marriage. Uniting resources to purchase homes and pursue long-term savings and investment plans is a definite wealth-building factor.
3. A healthy marriage can improve your overall physical and mental well-being. No marriage is perfect, but one that is built on trust, respect, compassion, and ….ahem, passion…. can reduce stress and anxiety levels and lower the risk for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.
We could go on and on about the benefits of marriage, but we want to hear from our readers.
Are you married or considering getting married?
Drop us a line and a picture of you and your boo in the Comments section of our website or one of the social media feeds.
Tell us your love story: How long have you been married or when is the big day? What other benefits do you think come with being married?
We can’t wait to hear from you!
Sojourner Peace
