Love is a phenomenal emotion; it can allow us to feel things and do things we’ve never felt or done before, it brings us immeasurable amounts of joyous feelings and it lets us realize what is truly important in life. Marriages and long-term relationships are some of the best ways love can be expressed because they embody all of these traits.

That being said, there are an infinite amount of benefits to being married or in a long-term relationship.

Numerous amounts of studies have proven that marriage and long-term relationships provide advantageous health benefits. One study from the University of Chicago found that marriage and other forms of committed relationships led to the reduction of stress-hormones. This is due to the increased amount of social support that these kinds of relationships offer, which helps to better deal with stress-inducing events. With these lowered stress hormones, other studies have found that married and long-term relationship people have a three times higher chance of surviving heart surgery, a lower risk of developing heart disease and a decreased risk of getting cancer. Additionally, other studies have found that getting married actually increases life longevity and lowers the risk of developing dementia.

One of the biggest emotional benefits that marriage and long-term relationships offer is increased happiness. A study from Michigan State University found that men in relationships are much happier and feel better about their lives than their bachelor counterparts. Living with a significant other also leads to increased happiness and better well-being. However, these emotional benefits can only be found in marriages and relationships that the participant would describe as being happy or healthy; the same emotional benefits cannot be said for people in opposite conditions. In order to achieve a happy or healthy marriage or relationship and to obtain these emotional benefits, experts believe in being with someone who shares similar values, to always communicate with your partner and to always view your partner as a friend.

Another valuable benefit to marriage and long-term relationships comes from an economic standpoint. For one thing, the amount of tax deductions given to married couples, and especially married couples with children, is enormous. Doing finances with another person makes them much easier to do, and combining incomes obviously yields a higher overall income, which increases the amount of potential purchases one can make.

Overall, whether it’s through health, emotional or financial benefits, marriage and other long-term relationships provide people with numerous advantages that make every obstacle completely worth it.

Finally, I would like to dedicate this piece to my father, Joseph DeNoia, and his soon-to-be wife (May 29), Kaori Nakano. Although you’ve had your ups and downs, you two have shown me what a healthy, loving and happy relationship looks like, and for that, I am forever grateful. I wish you two the happiest in your new life together.