From Claire Achieng. 

It is different in nearly every way.

When people dream about relationships (at least this person), they don’t tend to dream about a woman who takes out the garbage when you forget, or surprises you with a weekend trip to see your best friend, or pushes you to run off that high cholesterol number you just got, even though you hate running.

My wife is amazing, but not in the superficial way I thought my spouse would be. In my dreams, my wife would be beautiful and kind and find me irresistible.

She is all of that, too. But that’s not all that important, in the long run.

What really matters is someone who actually cares about you. Someone who will go out of their way to keep you healthy, wealthy, and safe, in spite of your own instincts.

I never dreamt of that. I just got really really lucky to actually get it. It’s why, after 15 years of marriage, I wouldn’t just throw myself in front of a train for my wife. That’s easy.

I would get up in the middle of the night to let out the dogs I didn’t really want for her. I would stop drinking so much beer and eating beef for her. I would learn to confront people for her.

She’s a way better spouse than I am. But she’s doing a good job teaching me how to be a better one.

It’s more than I ever dreamed for.

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