Американские Холостяки и Холостячки

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

I'm often asked how I knew Andy was "the one" when I met him. I'm one of those pragmatic-to-a-fault people who doesn't really believe in fate or soulmates. (I mean, ONE person in the whole world? Really?) In past relationships, I always wondered if there was a better match for me out there, or I'd focus on the imperfections between us rather than what worked. I've ended two longterm relationships—both of which seemed headed towards some version of "Happily Ever After"—based on not much more than a hunch that it wasn't right. It was certainly the path of more resistance, but listening to that hunch paid off for me.

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

Andy's very similar. He's a bit older and people have been asking him for YEARS when he was going to "settle down", what he was looking for, what was he waiting for. "Nobody's perfect," they'd tell him. He insisted that he wasn't looking for perfection, but that he'd know it when he saw it. On our first date he told me something I'll never forget: "I've been looking for you for a very long time." It's easy to say in retrospect that his wait was worth it, but for about a decade he defied societal pressure to stop looking and settle down, which is harder than it sounds and most definitely a risk.

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

I've teamed up with Express for their #ExpressLife "Authored By You" campaign, which is all about encouraging confidence and self-assuredness through our own personal mantras. My mantra is without a doubt from Chapter 13 of the wonderful book (which you must read!) Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston: "Happiness is the ultimate risk" In that chapter he says, "To be happy is to take the risk of losing that happiness." The first time I read that I needed a moment to let it sink in. At the risk (ha!) of sounding trite, it takes courage to not only seek out those things which make you happy, but risk pursuing them, and risk holding onto them. I often have to remind myself that the path of least resistance, while certainly comfortable, isn't always my friend. (I certainly have to remind myself of that when I'm in barre class.)
PS - To anyone reading this and taking it as a sign that they should continue to "risk" holding out for someone in hopes that they'll come around, heed Chapter 17: "Unrequited love is painful but not romantic"!

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

ATPP 5-Year Anniversary Party

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

jaredhaibon
How to even begin this caption? There’s so many emotions running through my body right now. I woke up yesterday morning, the day of my wedding, crying. Not from sadness, or fear. I was crying because I was so overwhelmed with happiness, excitement, gratefulness and humbleness. I was about to have the honor of marrying my favorite person on this earth. Ashley is my best friend, my person, my soulmate and now my wife. I love this woman more than words will ever allow me to express. In the coming days/weeks/months, I’ll be sharing so many pictures and videos from our wedding because it was the best day of my life. Thank you to my family and friends for surrounding us with so much love. Thank you to my parents for always supporting and loving me and being such great examples for my sister and I. Thank you to Jay and Audrey for being incredible people and raising two wonderful women. Thank you to @theyearofelan for making us cry with your beautiful ceremony. Thank you to @simplytroy and his entire team for working so hard with us over the past year on every detail of this wedding. At this moment, I truly feel like the luckiest man in the world.

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

__________________
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)