But it’s a beautiful thing to choose and to be chosen. It’s something our culture feels so disconnected from—the deep joy of making permanent decisions. ​ The reason we talk so much is that we have so much to talk about. We are very different people. ​ Within a lifelong commitment, I can free him from the burden of being perfect. Without the expectation of being the “perfect man,” he can be exactly what he is: A great man. (Crumbs and all.) That’s freeing. ​ But for me, I’m choosing to believe the commitment is the beginning. It’s where the story starts.

I rewound, and listened to that sentence three times: Feeling less is not feeling better. Feeling less is not feeling better. Feeling less is not feeling better.