On April 4,2015, I didn't think I would meet the love of my life in a McDonald's office. Benjamin and I worked at a McDonald's in Centerville, where we would constantly be yelled at by our general manager for messing around when we were supposed to be working. In all honesty, we were, but we put a new twist to how working in fast-food could be more fun than what most people thought it to be. During this time, we learned more about each other in two weeks than our best friend's knew in the multiple years we knew them. This is how I knew God put Ben in my life for a reason, and what I didn't know was that Ben would be saving me from a lot more than rude customers and complaints.

1) Cutting ties to a toxic past

Before Ben and I met, I was in a very toxic relationship. During this time I felt myself running to alternatives like bad social groups and partying. At the time I never realized how the parties and my 'friends' were breaking me down along with my ex-boyfriend. The first few months of Ben and I dating, I viewed it as a social rehab period. He opened my eyes to how people should be treated, showed me the good ways of being social with a good group of people, and even guided me to the right places to be involved with for school and work. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here today telling this story. I can promise you that.

2) Helped shape me into a successful woman

As I said before, Ben and I worked at McDonald's for a while until we branched off to start our careers elsewhere. This process was a struggle, because I was already having difficulty keeping up with school, work, and family matters. "You don't have work ethic..." was his go-to saying when there was nothing else to say when discussing my job or school responsibility. It got to the point where I saw the negative impacts it had on the relationship and even on myself. In order to prove to my boss and teachers I was truly dedicated like I was when I first started, I worked whenever Ben did (I'm talking 12+ hour shifts), and accepted the slow replies from Ben... this was his way of making me study. I was always the role model student and, for a while, I was a model employee, but that all faded away when my work ethic did. Thankfully, it only took a good six months to get back into the groove of things. Without those six months of arguments regarding work, I would have never been brought onto the Odyssey team. I love it here, and would never give it up for the world.

3) Reminded me that it was okay to talk

I'm typically a very social person. I'm the one that a stranger could come up to and have hours of conversation and most likely become friends. With that being said, you would've never expected me to feel isolated with how I was feeling. I have persistent depression. Something I don't talk about on social media, let alone with my family. This is the first time I'm openly admitting this. In my case, I isolate myself from people so I'm not asked questions or so I don't feel pushed into telling things I don't feel like talking about. When this happens, my anxiety kicks in. Anxiety and depression are not my favorite mix. Sometimes when I'm asked how I'm doing I don't do it in the right way. I raise my voice, I cry, or even walk away. I did this because nobody understood what I was going through besides Ben. Ben's my best friend. I talk to him as if every word I say he has a connection with. I do this because Ben and I relate to situations a lot more than what most people think. He'll go out of his way to know what's going on inside my head. This is so rare to find, especially when society makes a point to push depression to the back burner.

4) Puts me in my place

Let's be honest, everyone has that little bit of attitude that just does not work on social media or even face to face. I can personally say from past experiences that my rants and flip-outs on people have caused me to get some severe punishments, but we've all been there. Ben makes sure I don't come off too strong, but still lets me be myself. He doesn't strive to change the way I work, look, or carry myself. I like to think that Ben is the editor of my life - he makes sure things are said just right and makes sure things are going smoothly. He does this because sometimes I don't catch myself and don't read or hear things from other people's perspective. Having that person in your life that can tell you the honest truth is so nice to have, especially when you always want to be right.

5) Saves me from myself

I saved the best part for last... Ben saves me from myself. They'll be days where I'm so stressed out that I act out and become someone I'm not. Other days my depression is a sly-dog and takes over and things can get pretty ugly. When it comes to days like this, it's better to have that one person you can run to and they'll help you. Ben has always been the shoulder I could cry on or just rant away the night to, but I never realized how much he saved me from my own thoughts and actions.

At the end of it all, Ben is more than just a boyfriend. He is my best friend who has yet to realize all he's done for me. Ben, if you're reading this, thank you. I would never be where I am today without you holding my hand through it all. I don't think there's enough words to ever express the appreciation I have for you. To my reader, if you have someone in your life who treats you the way Ben treats and even handles me (I'm a handful to say the least), then they're a keeper. They're a rare breed of the human-race that needs to be thanked more often for the work they do. Ben has saved me multiple times, but nothing has saved me more than the love he has for me. I am beyond blessed to call Benjamin the love of my life, and I'm very excited to see where life takes us...

as a team.