Sad that a thread requesting personal advice somehow ended up in the D&D. I'd hate for a discussion of my life decisions to end up in a poo-flinging forum. And, reading the last page-worth of comments, I don't even see why it was moved.
I respect that marriage is right for you, but value to you is merely your perception. And perception is heavily tainted by ignorance if it's built on ideals instead of experience. You've built up an "ideal" where sex is structured around getting married and making sex a divine process within that institution. By caging it, you marginalize it. If everything was so black and white, we wouldn't have color in this world. Maybe you view sex as a sinful, dirty act that needs to be covered by the rungs of marriage to be justified. Why is it more intimate if a contract is attached to it? Can't a foundation be built on shared experiences, living together and the laughs you share? It feels like something natural is being hardened and made into a plastic box... for the sake of societal power and respect. My "advice" has nothing to do with fleeting sex. That's how a perverted mentality sees it. It has do with having a big enough heart to put yourself out there and make the relationship natural before you cement it.
Sometimes I think it would be easier to be an ignorant youth rather than an educated youth. Over thinking things seems to make my life stressful and helps out the situation 0%. All this YOLO Carpe Diem BS that people get away with because they think its cool or w/e might actually be easier than saying IDK about all that. Taking a plunge saying that you're in love after 2 weeks or w/e then getting married 3 months after meeting seems like crazy talk to me, yet so many people go through similar situations. I think I'm about half way done venting...
