I’ve been writing and rewriting this blog post in my head since this afternoon. Today, I am beyond infuriated with how I am treated as a young, unmarried woman. Here is why:

I received a “gift” in the mail today from an “Aunt.” This gift included a note and a few books. Sounds lovely right? This is note and the books I received.

I was enraged when I saw this, for a multitude of reasons:

1.) My extended family does NOT know me that well. This person in particular knows very little about me or my character and cannot make judgments about my life choices.

2.) This implies that I’m a weak, thoughtless woman. Buying a house was not a decision I made lightly nor did it happen on a whim. It was thought about and discussed for over a year. The discussion still continues.

3.) My one rule about people who choose a religion: Do not push your beliefs on me. I cannot count the number of times I have informed people I do not believe in any one particular god. My jury is still out on whether or not there is a higher power. I also believe that I try to be a good person and that I do not need the help of a church to be one.

4.) This implies that women need to be married to be in a successful, loving relationship. Marriage does not make a relationship better or stronger. If our relationship is going to fail it would do so regardless of whether we were married or not. Divorce just costs more. Marriage is a personal choice, but it’s not my choice.

I do not need self help books to make my relationships work. I’m an intelligent, independent woman who can use my own brain and heart to navigate life. I do not need to be married and have 2.5 kids to consider my life complete. I have a man in my life who is supportive and let’s me be me. We are a partnership and we are individuals, this works for us. Maybe we’ll be together forever, maybe we won’t, no one can predict the future. Right now, I’m happy and that is what matters.

I am tired of constantly being told when I state that I do not want to get married or have children that I will “change my mind.” No, I know who I am and what I want out of life and neither of those things are it. I’m trying to live a happy, full, authentic life, not one people believe I should be living for one reason or another. I hope that I live a life so full of love and happiness that I make a million choices people disapprove of. I hope to make millions of mistakes so that I can continue to learn from them. I encourage all of you: Be you and let others be them. Maybe if we all live the life we truly wanted and let people do the same we would live in a happier, peaceful world.

Go forth, live authentically and love the most that you can.