Recently I became engaged and got overwhelmed with all the congratulations and questions. One questions have stuck with me "Don't you think it's too soon to settle down? You're only in your early 20s." I really have been thinking about it and I personally don't think it's too soon.

It's about the person, not the relationship. There seems to be this I don't want to be "tied down" mindset floating throughout society. Too much responsibility, too much work, too much of "I'm too big of a feminist," or whatever their prehistoric mind frame is. We think we're better off on our own, we think we can accomplish more on our own when we're not "tied down". How about changing that way of thinking into how much more you could accomplish just by having moral and financial support? Why would anyone want to do things alone when there is someone you could go through life with and build a strong foundation from the ground up? If you feel "tied down," then you're with the wrong person.

When you're with the right person, you can grow and flourish as an individual. You will begin to find potential in each other that neither of you had seen before, simply because you now have your biggest fan next to you, challenging you and cheering you on every step of the way. In my opinion that's pretty freakin' cool!!

When you start having children your life isn't going to be over, it's really just beginning.That is such a selfish way of thinking. Life is like a book, there are multiple chapters throughout it. So your life is never "over", as long as you choose to live it to the fullest. You're just beginning a new chapter, a new and exciting journey. You are now about to spend the rest of your life watching this person you created, grow up into someone you taught to be a good person bloom into an adult and build their own life. I think it would be an amazing thing to witness and be a part of

Obviously, I'm not naive. I know no one has a perfect relationship or marriage for that matter. Marriage is hard work, this I understand. I feel if the two people are seriously invested in it and love each other wholeheartedly, then with every problem, every argument and every happy moment spent together makes it worth it

Rather you're in your twenties, thirties, forties or even seventies and you feel the time is just right for you then, by all means, go for it. To hell with what others may say or think. Find your happiness, find your home within that person you have chosen to love. Please always remember, even though you have chosen them, they have also chosen you to build a life with. Never take them for granted. Always show appreciation toward them and be thankful that you have found your "person." The three "L" words that have become nothing more than a quote on someone's front porch doormat, really should be the words we choose to live by. Think about how easier life would be if we could just LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE a little more.