10 Reasons Why Commitment

I can't leave it alone.  I tried.  Then I stewed on it and my fingers just went a-typing.  I didn't edit, so forgive any typos or spelling errors or just weirdness.
And thus... I present my ...
10 Reasons Why Commitment Rocks1. “Commitment” is the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.Dedication is not typically easy, whether it is dedication to one's faith or dedication to one's job or dedication to one's spouse, but crafting character isn't supposed to be easy.  Dedication to seeing something through - in good times AND in bad - can be trying, but much like the dedication it takes to climbing a mountain, the view from the top can be breath taking and indescribably beautiful.If you've never worked hard for or dedicated yourself to anything, you can't possibly relate to the glorious feeling of success when you're able to stand atop one mountain and look ahead to the many more to come.2. "Commitment is an act, not a word." Jean-Paul SartreSure, if people believe that using the word "commitment" is enough, then they are likely insane, but hardly "committed". Commitment means being dedicated.  Being dedicated means having loyalty and integrity in the decisions you make in your marriage.  Having integrity means being honest and having strong moral principles.  Being honest and having strong moral principles means knowing yourself thoroughly and being able to look at yourself in the mirror and know that you are the best you that you can possibly be!3. Commitment leads to quiet, loving discussions.When a person has a calling to pursue their dreams that may be out of alignment with the relationship status quo, and they are in a truly committed relationship, they are able to bring their concerns to their partner and share in their excitement of their dreams and their fears of potentially letting go of them. In a marriage, partners discuss options and mutually come up with dreams they both can be enthusiastic and passionate about so that they both may find contentment in their pursuits of happiness.  Partners are able to pull closer together during these trying times by talking things over and problem solving together.4. Commitment reminds you to be compassionate.Love is not unconditional, so if you're going to spend your life with someone, why not make the journey pleasant for everyone by being kind and compassionate and mindful of one's own actions?5. Commitment expands your horizons.When a couple makes the realization that the differences between them are not simply sources of conflict, but actually opportunities to be stronger as a couple, each partner is able to expand his or her horizons.  Each spouse will see things in a totally different light and with totally different past experiences and present skill sets to temper their perspective.  As the old adage goes: two heads are better than one!  Having a loving partner be able to explain his or her view point may give the other partner the chance to see things in a whole new light!6. Commitment makes you fun.Hanging out in crowds around other people, you get to just be you.  You don't have to worry about competing for attention or trying to impress anyone.  When you're in a committed relationship, you know you can be as comfortable as you want because your spouse has your back and at the end of the night when you both kick off your shoes and snuggle comfortably into bed together, you can laugh off any mishaps and rejoice in each other's company.7. Commitment makes you humble.There is nothing more humbling than standing before God, family, and friends, and promising nothing shy of _your entire life_ to another person, who not only promises to take and treasure and nurture that life that you're offering, but is offering his or her own entire life in exchange.  To know that someone trusts you so implicitly and believes in your courage and wisdom and ability to weather each storm that passes - for all of the breaths you take from there on out?  That is simply humbling.Commitment also means having someone hold your hair while you puke and hold your hand while you cry and prop you up when you're falling down.  Being married means having someone see you at your very, very worst, and thinking that as bad as that worst was, you're still _absolutely_ worthy and wonderful.Commitment makes you so humble that you're willing to swallow your pride and apologize - because you have learned that being happy is definitely worth more than being right.8. Commitment doubles your resources.Being married means having a support network of friends and family twice as big.  It means having more hands to help with the work, more shoulders to carry the burden, and more brain power to figure things out.9. Commitment makes you more socially conscious.Being committed to another person gives you reason to realize that the world does not center around you.  While at first this may only affect decisions you make surrounding your spouse, eventually, you begin to realize that the world is wide and varied and that there are problems that we, as a society face and must rally against - together.  Marriage is a way to practice this social consciousness in a small, safe environment so that it may be put to use for the greater good in the world at large.10. Commitment gives you twice as many family relationships.Oh, but I said that in #8 - plus it seems unfair to steal one from the original post so:Long term commitment gives you a shared history and a common past that gives each partner an empathy that no one else will ever be able to quite grasp or understand in the same way.