Marriage is a serious, long-term commitment. So, how do you decide that a person is someone you want to spend the rest of your life and share a good relationship with? What are the important signs she's the one?

In this blog, I, Gabes, share my journey of realising Anna is the right partner with whom I can share a lifelong and meaningful relationship.

Genuine Interest and Engagement

I knew Anna was "the one" for me because of her genuine interest and engagement in our conversations.

I found Anna incredibly interesting because she had a lot to say and brought depth to our discussions.

Despite her talkative nature, Anna wasn't self-centred. Our exchanges were always two-way streets, naturally avoiding the pitfalls of one-sided dialogues.

When we were still in the early stages of getting to know each other, Anna put in the effort to understand me better, asking thoughtful questions amid my reserved personality.

Along the way, I discovered Anna's curiosity about me wasn't just superficial. Here's someone who truly wanted to know every intricate detail about me–– a level of interest that made me feel appreciated and acknowledged.

Knowing these things, I became more and more comfortable being vulnerable with Anna.

The mutual interest we had in each other's lives laid the foundations of our solid relationship.

Courage to Apologise

Another huge sign that pointed to Anna being a good partner for me was her ability to say sorry right away.

It might seem simple, but it speaks volumes about Anna's character and willingness to prioritise relationships over her ego.

Before we officially started dating, Anna and I had a disagreement. I was so frustrated about the situation that it prompted me to walk away and head home immediately.

About 30 minutes after I got home, there was a knock on my door. To my surprise, it was Anna.

Still upset, I opened the door and asked Anna what she wanted.

Anna immediately acknowledged that she was wrong. So, she apologised and suggested we go for a walk to discuss things further.

Anna's accountability, humility, and courage to come over and apologise in person right away, even if it was already late at night, was a revelation of her character.

That walk turned out to be a turning point. She could have easily called or sent a text, but she chose to come over and face the situation head-on.

Now, eight years into our marriage, Anna is still quick to apologise when she's in the wrong.

Anna might initially be defensive, but she always comes around, apologises, and makes amends.

Shared Conviction in Christ

Another good sign she's the one is Anna's unwavering faith and conviction in Christ.

I've always believed that a healthy relationship isn't just sex.

But we're humans with sexual desires. So, to be completely honest, if it wasn't for Anna, we probably would've had sex early on in our relationship.

I've always believed in God. I understood the moral implications of certain actions, such as premarital or casual sex.

However, it was Anna who truly introduced me to Jesus Christ and helped me lead a life with Him in the centre at all times. It was her strong faith and commitment to waiting until marriage to engage in sexual intercourse that really challenged me.

Abstaining from sex until marriage wasn't easy, but Anna and I went on a journey together, reading the scripture and praying. In the process, I was able to reconsider my beliefs.

Anna allowed me to see our relationship through a spiritual lens. We navigated our Christian faith together, and that faith is what has ultimately been guiding our decisions and getting us on the same page from the start.

Constant Support

I knew Anna was the right person for me when I realised how consistently she pushed me out of my comfort zone.

I've always been a dreamer who aspires to achieve great things, but fear often holds me back from taking action.

Anna never let me stay in that place of inaction.

When I was looking for work after graduating from University, Anna would encourage me to submit my applications and prepare for interviews.

Within two months of Anna pushing and challenging me, I landed a job.

Anna's invaluable support and ability to challenge me, without adding pressure, since then has allowed me to build the career I have now.

Every job transition I've had over the past decade has been influenced by Anna's insistence that I keep pushing myself to become a better person in terms of my career and life in general.

To this day, Anna is my constant reminder to keep moving forward and not settle.

Shared Vision for the Future

Lastly and most importantly, sharing the same vision for the future is a sure sign she's the one.

Even before we officially started dating, we talked about all the specifics of how we see ourselves in the future. We discussed where we wanted to live, how many kids we wanted, what career paths we wanted to pursue, and how we wanted our families to be integrated.

Having these discussions in the initial stages of our relationship excited me about the future I could possibly have with Anna.

We discovered that Anna and I complement each other in many ways. Ultimately, these talks revealed that our core values truly align even though we express ourselves differently.

The Bottomline

Looking for a lifetime partner isn't about having an exhaustive list of qualities you want in a spouse.

While finding "the one" likely begins with physical attraction, it all boils down to having an honest conversation, getting to know each other on a deeper level, and choosing to sustain a meaningful relationship with that person through the best and the worst of times.

Every interaction I've had with Anna since the day I met her reinforced that she's the one for me.

Eight years of marriage and two kids later, I can confidently say I made the right choice in Anna. And I am happily choosing her every day for the rest of our lives.

We hope you found this article helpful, especially if you're looking for a few signs to settle down with someone!

For those in a happy relationship, do you have tips on how to know if she's "the one"?

We'd love to hear all your stories, so feel free to leave a comment below!

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