Thread by @primalpoly

Today is the first anniversary of marriage to @sentientist. We wrote on own wedding vows, and I thought I'd share them in this thread, in case anyone's curious about how we think about our relationship. (1/N).

Together:
We are grateful for all that led to this moment

Geoffrey:
We are grateful to this universe that sparked life,
and that sustains the evolution of endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful.

Diana:
We are grateful for the millions of years our ancestors struggled and succeeded – in surviving, finding loving mates, and lovingly raising children – generation after generation.

Geoffrey:
We are grateful for the thousands of years our ancestors worked to build our magnificent civilization,
with its arts and sciences, its enlightenment and ethics, its peace, prosperity, and progress.

Diana:
The chance of either one of us existing was infinitesimal, but here we are, together.

Geoffrey:
We were born into loving families

Diana:
We have found good friends.

Together:
We are grateful to be here together on this day, in a world filled with joy, humor, song, delight, companionship, and community.

Geoffrey’s vows:

I, Geoffrey, take you, Diana, to be my wife, and these things I vow to you:

I vow to protect your life with my life, and your well-being with all my strength, wisdom, and love.

I vow to nurture your health, success, creativity, and freedom.

Whatever paths you pursue, I will stay by your side; whatever challenges you face, I will face with you.

I vow to build a relationship that embraces both solitude and closeness, both challenge and comfort – a garden big enough for us both to grow.

Bring me your honest, open heart, and I will always offer you mine.

I vow to build a relationship that’s more than a connection between our separate selves.

I vow to build a relationship that’s a comforting home, a vivifying adventure, a sacred mission, an inspiring example, and a foundation for our shared future.

I will be a fortress for your safety, and a paradise for your playfulness.

I vow to sustain my health, build my strength, and lengthen my life through nutritious food, active exercise, restful sleep, and good habits.

I vow to sustain my resilience through self-restraint, mindfulness, and gratitude.

I vow to stay open-minded and curious, to keep seeking knowledge and wisdom – to bring light and truth into our home.

I vow to treat your family as my own, and to stay committed to their health, happiness, and growth.
Your kin are my kin; your friends are my friends.

Through every doubt, every argument, every wound, and every challenge, I will faithfully find my way back to you, and reconnect my heart to yours.

I will endeavor to transform our arguments into growth, our misunderstandings into insight, and our conflicts into renewed commitments.

I vow to love you as fully, beautifully, and consciously as I can, with warmth, humor, patience, and forgiveness.

Diana’s vows:

I, Diana, take you, Geoffrey, to be my husband, and these things I vow to you.

I vow to protect your life with my life, and your well-being with all my strength, wisdom, and love.

I vow to nurture your health, success, creativity, and freedom.

Whatever paths you pursue, I will stay by your side; whatever challenges you face, I will face with you.

I vow to build a relationship that embraces both solitude and closeness, both challenge and comfort – a garden big enough for us both to grow.

Bring me your honest, open heart, and I will always offer you mine.

I vow to build a relationship that’s more than a connection between our separate selves.

I vow to build a relationship that’s a comforting home, a vivifying adventure, a sacred mission, an inspiring example, and a foundation for our shared future.

I will be a fortress for your safety, and a paradise for your playfulness.

I vow to sustain my health, build my strength, and lengthen my life through nutritious food, active exercise, restful sleep, and good habits.

I vow to sustain my resilience through self-restraint, mindfulness, and gratitude.

I vow to stay open-minded and curious, to keep seeking knowledge and wisdom, to bring light and truth into our home.

I vow to treat your family as my own, and to stay committed to their health, happiness, and growth.
Your kin are my kin; your friends are my friends.

Through every doubt, every argument, every wound, and every challenge, I will faithfully find my way back to you, and reconnect my heart to yours.

I will endeavor to transform our arguments into growth, our misunderstandings into insight, and our conflicts into renewed commitments.

I vow to love you as fully, beautifully, and consciously as I can, with warmth, humor, patience, and forgiveness.

Together:
Our love is not just ours.

Geoffrey:
We dedicate our love to our future selves, our future family, and the flourishing of our species.

Diana:
We dedicate our happiness to the well-being of all sentient life, from this day to the distant future, from the Earth to the stars.

Geoffrey:
With this ring, I take you as my wife.

Diana:
With this ring, I take you as my husband.

[End]