Mawwiage.

Let’s start off on the right foot

“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.”
–Ursula K. Le Guin

The skinny

It might not be romantic, but wedding season could also be called legal season.

♥

Here comes the bride.

It’s officially June. Can you hear the wedding bells? At least 12% of 2022 weddings will take place this month, amounting to 300,000 ceremonies, 10,000 per day.

A groom boom.

In fact, more weddings will be held in America this year than any other since 1984. COVID-19 cancelled families’ plans to celebrate, so this summer and fall, vendor calendars are overflowing with rescheduled events.

You know what else got rescheduled for 2022?

Divorce. Hopefully a blessing in disguise, the events of 2020 brought thousands of marriages to their breaking point. And today, many people are still slogging through a delayed judicial process to dissolve their relationships. Thankfully, divorce rates are expected to return to their pre-pandemic downward trend.

Mawwiage.

Whether to the love of your life or a beautiful stranger you just met, marriage is the most legally consequential decision a person can make. Lifelong relationships and temporary ones can both encounter legal issues.

The name of the game.

At best, you and your partner will craft wills and make estate decisions. At worst, spouses find themselves in courtrooms to settle issues of property, financial obligations, custody, and the like. Legal issues are overwhelming on every level—emotionally, physically, and financially.

Can’t even.

During the present fight for talent, organizations are listening to their people and finding employees want their employers to meet them halfway, sharing the burden of their unique life circumstances.

Got my back?

While ranking underneath critical illness and accident insurance, legal protection is an underrated benefit—unnoticed until needed, but indisputably life-changing to those who do use it. Employees may need legal advice for any number of reasons: pursuing naturalization, adopting a precious child, or even rebounding from a car accident. Savvy employers are there to help.

Date with data: 52% of employees have considered seeking legal counsel since the pandemic began

Further reading: 5 Survey Questions to Measure Employee Satisfaction

The skinny

The best feeling on earth? Well, that takes work.

♥

‘Til death do us part.

Not in spite of but because of the hard times, marriages and other lifelong partnerships prove to be the most fulfilling relationships a human can experience.

50/50

You’ve heard it before. Deeply committed relationships are not split down the middle, but rather nurtured by both giving 100%—even when your S.O. struggles to reciprocate. Long-term success comes down to two simple words: respect and deliberateness. To see your other half as truly equal to yourself and to put thought behind your words and actions.

You have two ears and one mouth.

Respect in a marriage time and time again boils down to words: Listening to your partner’s words with true intent to understand and choosing to speak words that build bonds, rather than break ‘em. Most of us are better at one of these than the other.

Objection!

Improving your communication, particularly in active listening, is the single best thing you can do to be a better partner. Stop debating, and practice listening to the entire message before responding.

Level up.

Expert communicators add a step between these two. Next time, try rephrasing what your partner said and then speaking your truth. Even if you don’t agree, this effort tells your significant other that you care to understand them.

Work hard, play hard.

Through the trials and tribulations of marriage and commitment, don’t forget to have fun! Make time for adventures big and small, be spontaneous when you can, and share your dreams of a wonderful life together.

Double date: Of 18- to 55-year-olds, the share of those who are married from an upper-class background is 60%. This figure falls to 20% for the poor.

For you: How To Understand Your Partner Better For A Stronger Relationship