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Love Maps
              I am a huge fan of creating Gottard-inspired Love Map while you are dating or preparing to get married. It is such a good idea to see where each other falls under the needs of their significant other. It also helps to understand what your significant other has to offer. Another reason for making a Love Map is it gives someone the opportunity to make changes in their life if they want to be part of another person’s Love Map. A challenge that a couple might face while trying to maintain their Love Map in a marriage is that people change and evolve. Interests, personalities, beliefs, desires- all of these things can change and completely alter their original Love Map. The struggle would be to make room for these changes and being willing to be open to adjusting their Love map to make room for those changes. Another issue might be that a Love Map was never made in the first place. Many couples survive without a Love Map, but the problem is realizing that you are so different and want different things after you’re married. I believe it could help to make a Love Map if these issues are happening so that there can be an opportunity to change to fit the Love Map.
Sacrifices
              A marriage requires a lot of sacrifice. However, I believe that sacrifices are always worth it if you are with the right person. Even though there are sacrifices to be made, a marriage is also very rewarding. It makes those sacrifices easier because you are in a loving and happy partnership. The freedom of being single might be missed, but it doesn’t compare to being in love and being loved back. I believe I’ve made many sacrifices in my marriage. I got married at a young age. I was 22 years old. At the time, I thought I was old enough to commit to marriage. Looking back now, I realize that I was still very young and had a lot to learn. I sacrificed my personal space, independence, dating life, and time with my friends to get married and start a family. But when I compare that life to the one I have now, that life does not hold a candle to the beautiful life I have now. I have commitment, two beautiful children, and an amazing husband who is also a great father and provider. The sacrifices I made were all worth it go get me to where I am now. I have more fulfillment in my life than I ever had when I was single.
              One sacrifice that I am withholding in my marriage now is how I use our money. We work off a budget, but I don’t try very hard to stick to that budget. I spend a lot of money on drive-thru Diet Cokes, quick McDonald’s lunches for my kids, spontaneous Target trips, and online shopping. Controlling my spending has always been hard for me. When I got married, I was in a lot of debt because I did not know how to manage my finances. I know that it would mean a lot to my husband now if I made the sacrifice to truly stick to our budget and stop spending money the way I have been. It seems silly, but that would be something that’s very hard for me to do!

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