My definition of a partner

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

part·ner | \ ˈpärt-nər 1: a member of a partnership especially in a business
2: a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship : one member of a couple

When you look up the word "Partner," this is what Merriam-Webster has to say. I will say, that I have found both of these definitions in my husband, Brady. If you've been reading for some time, you know we run a business together in Palm Coast (which gives us the blessing of spending A LOT of time together). Being my husband, the second definition comes naturally as he is the other half of this couple. When I think about the word partnership,

When I think of the word partner, especially in the context of 2020, it to me means so much than just a membership of a business and intimacy. It means working together when things get hard. It means loving each other when sometimes we may not deserve it. It means showing up and standing up when your other half needs you.

I read a story a few years back about a husband and wife. The wife was going through something challenging and was pulling back from her spouse and acting out with negativity. The husband had two choices: respond and meet his wife with equal or worse negative energy or to dig deep and love her through it. Day by day he made the choice to respond with love. He started by leaving notes around the house for her to find. He sent flowers to her work for no reason. He would wake up early and make her breakfast in bed. And day by day, the wife started to change. While he was loving her through it, she began to love herself again. And as she loved herself, their entire world changed.

Today Brady and I celebrate 4 years of wedded bliss. Even though it can be hard, we have chosen to love ourselves through those tough times. This choice has helped us learn many lessons about each other and ourselves, which has allowed us to grow individually as well. Each day as we continue to grow as individuals our relationship and love grows stronger with it. I am forever grateful that this man chose me to build a life with.

Happy anniversary, Brady! Thank you for being the ultimate definition of a partner in business, in marriage, and in life!