It feels like every time I log on to Facebook, another friend from high school is engaged, married or pregnant. Meanwhile, I have a 500 square foot apartment and a dog. AND I LOVE IT. I don’t want to get engaged, I don’t want a hashtag and I definitely don’t want an expensive wedding. At least not right now. I’m in my early twenties and I cannot understand how anyone could possibly advise anyone get married this young. I haven’t done anything yet! How am I supposed to “settle down” when I haven’t even gotten in the game?
1. Because you don’t know what you want.
How do you know you won’t wake up in two years and hate the face looking back at you? Maybe you never will know that for sure. However, I think we are all definitely making the least informed decisions at this point in our lives. I don’t know what I want! I can barely decide on a color for my nails much less a life partner.
2. Because you don’t want to give up your bed.
One of my greatest joys in life is my queen size bed all to myself (and my dog). Having the ability to completely sprawl my 5’2 body across said mattress is pure bliss. I don’t want to share! Even when I do have company, I can’t wait for them to leave. Getting married means they never leave. I’ll pass.
3. Or, pick up after someone else.
I am an organized messy person. As in, my mess is organized and I don’t need someone else’s mess coming into my mess and ruining it. You have to share everything including chores. Right now, I do everything on my terms. Dirty dishes in the sink? Sure, I’ll get to it next week when I finish binging on Scandal. Marriage, as far as I know, doesn’t really work like that.
4. Because you haven’t dated enough.
I’ve been in one actual, serious relationship and a lot of “I don’t really know what this is” relationships. I’ve been on more first dates than I can count and yet, I don’t think I’ve dated enough. I still don’t know exactly what I want in a partner. I just know everything thus far is a no. I think the only way to find out is well, dating more.
5. Because you need to learn to be independent.
One of the most important things to me in this life is being independent. I don’t want to rely on anyone for anything. Sometimes you have to, but I want to be able to lead a life on my own and I don’t think getting married in your 20’s helps you achieve that. You won’t have the opportunity to mess up on your own and figure out how to fix it.