Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Better Man

Here goes, the number 1 reason to get married:

No.1 - Marriage makes you a better man

If you're a smart guy, you'll choose to be with a woman who is insightful, opinionated and honest. That's the kind of companion who can make you a better person. She can bring out the best in you. She can challenge you to be the best version of yourself. On top of that, through marriage you'll learn the true meaning of self-sacrifice and compromise. In short, marriage will make you a better man.

I didn't need to marry Mandi to become a better man, I only needed to meet her. Ever since the day we met, I've been focused on being a better person and a better leader. Being her "dream husband" is my focus now and it's something that I will never stop trying to accomplish. But more important than even that, I'm hoping to be the leader that she's always wanted. We will have a Christ centered marriage and it is my responsibility to make sure that is always our first focus. If I can manage to lead our household successfully in that regard, there is NO DOUBT that we will have a long, happy and blissful wedded life. Here's to the next 50 years!!!

Check out the intro to this list here.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Check out the number nine reason here.

Check out the number eight reason here.

Check out the number seven reason here.

Check out the number six reason here.

Check out the number five reason here.

Check out the number four reason here.

Check out the number three reason here.

Check out the number two reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Happiness

Here goes, the number 2 reason to get married:

No.2 - A recent study done at an Australian university shows that married men are happier than single men. In fact, married men are 135% more likely to report a high happiness score than single men. That's an astounding figure.

Marriage offers a man the kind of stability and support that allows him to succeed in all other aspects of life. Think about it: How much more could you accomplish if all the drama from crazy women and bad breakups was replaced by the presence of a loving and caring partner? The prospect of greater happiness is near the top of our list of the top 10 reasons to get married.

To be honest with you, before I met Mandi, I thought I was the happiest guy alive. However, Mandi has managed to take that happiness to a whole other level. I don't even think I can fathom how happy I'll be with her as my wife. She's given me the best reason yet to live, and live BIG. She motivates me to be great at anything I attempt and is always there to console me if I fall short in my goals. If I can provide her half of the support, love and happiness that she provides me, she'll be one happy lady too. Of course I'm looking to double it :)

Check out the intro to this list here.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Check out the number nine reason here.

Check out the number eight reason here.

Check out the number seven reason here.

Check out the number six reason here.

Check out the number five reason here.

Check out the number four reason here.

Check out the number three reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Better Sex

Here goes, the number 3 reason to get married:

No.3 - Marriage means better sex

One-night stands are exciting because of the thrill of the chase, granted, but often -- too often -- once the two of you get naked you find yourselves fumbling and bumbling unable to anticipate each others’ moves and unaware of what gets the other off. Married couples know each other; they have a feel for each others’ bodies and are aware of their partner's fantasies. Consequently, married sex is better than single sex. Further, a long, stable relationship lends itself to sexual experimentation. Admit it; there are things you'd love to try in bed that you've never told anyone because you were afraid of being judged. But in a long-term relationship founded on trust, you can give voice to your innermost desires.

Sold!! Again, I certainly can't relate to the post all that much, but I sure am looking forward to it. It makes perfect sense though. Just as we learn more and more about each other as we grow as a couple, I'm sure that we'll learn more and more about each other in that way too. We both feel that it is an extremely important part of a marriage and we are looking forward to that journey as well as many others. My bags are packed!!

Check out the intro to this listhere.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Check out the number nine reason here.

Check out the number eight reason here.

Check out the number seven reason here.

Check out the number six reason here.

Check out the number five reason here.

Check out the number four reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Sex

Here goes, the number 4 reason to get married:

No.4 - Marriage means more sex

Married men have more sex than single men do. It's a fact -- supported by study after study. A study done by the Kinsey Institute, for example, suggests that 23% of non-married men periodically go a year without sex, while only 1% of married men experience 12-month dry spells. Similarly, while 19% of single guys have sex two to three times a week, 36% of married men have sex that often. So, while single guys are out at the clubs, spending their paychecks just to get a girl's attention, married men are home having sex with their wives.

I can guarantee you that Mandi and I will have more sex once we're married. Last time I checked, even one time was more than no times. Mandi and I firmly believe that sex is a covenant meant only to be shared between a husband and wife. That's not to say that the last two years haven't been incredibly tough, but somehow we managed to keep our hands off of each other :) That's all going to change once we're married (fingers crossed) and I can tell you that both Mandi and I are looking forward to it. We're confident that are faithfulness to remain pure will be blessed by God thousand-fold on our marriage bed. Shoot, I'd even take a hundred-fold :)

Check out the intro to this list here.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Check out the number nine reason here.

Check out the number eight reason here.

Check out the number seven reason here.

Check out the number six reason here.

Check out the number five reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Financial Benefits

Here goes, the number 5 reason to get married:

No.5 - Marriage brings financial benefits

There are numerous financial benefits associated with matrimony. For starters, there are tax breaks for married couples as well as for families. Getting married might also mean getting access to things like her premium health insurance plan. Like it or not, society is designed to make life easier for married couples. If you're single, you're out of luck. That's another argument in our top 10 reasons to get married.

This one rings very true to Mandi and I. We don't have anything set in stone as of today, but we're working on getting her a job with great benefits, including health. As of right now, I'm considered a disabled dependent by the state and am therefore still covered under my mom's insurance policy. That all ends the day I tie the knot. Fortunately we have up to 18 months of COBRA to fall back on if need be, but we're hoping to hear back about a new job for Mandi this week. Let's keep our fingers crossed and the prayers flowing!!

Check out the intro to this list here.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Check out the number nine reason here.

Check out the number eight reason here.

Check out the number seven reason here.

Check out the number six reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Confidence

Here goes, the number 6 reason to get married:

No.6 - Marriage makes you more attractive

As our own Justin Prugh covered in his article, Why Do Single Women Like Taken Men, married men are more attractive to other women. Now, we're not suggesting that you should get married purely because it will make it easier to score with other women, but we are suggesting that marriage makes you appealing to the opposite sex. Because getting attention from beautiful women feels good, it's a confidence booster. Plus, when you go out with all of your single buddies, all of the hot women will be hitting on you. Who's laughing now?

Just when I didn't think that I could become any more attractive to the opposite sex I go and read this :) I'm pretty sure Mandi would tell you the last thing I need is a confidence booster, but getting hit on by "all of the hot women" doesn't sound too shabby. The way I see it, the more I ignore the droves of women heading my way, the more it confirms to Mandi how unbelievably stunning and perfect she is! Looks like everybody wins in this scenario. Am I missing something here?

Check out the intro to this list here.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Check out the number nine reason here.

Check out the number eight reason here.

Check out the number seven reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Partnership

Here goes, the number 7 reason to get married:

No.7 - Marriage prevents you from dying alone

Sure, you're on a hot streak right now, dating 20-year-old yoga instructors and bi-curious baristas, but we both know that's not going to last forever. How's being single going to work out for you when you're 60, when you have hair in all of the wrong places and no one can stand to look at you? Marriage is an investment in your future. Sure, you sacrifice some of your sweet single years, but in exchange you get to make a long-term investment in one person, building a deep, abiding love that has the potential to last a lifetime.

I feel like I'm getting a two-for-one on this number. Not only am I "making an investment" into a friendship that's going to last a lifetime, but I'm also getting the 20-year-old yoga instructor (she's 23 and doesn't teach yoga, but close enough :) ). I've never been worried about dying alone because I am surrounded by family that loves me, but to know that I'll now have my best friend, companion, lover and wife next to me through thick and thin brings me great joy.

Check out the intro to this list here.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Check out the number nine reason here.

Check out the number eight reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Family

Here goes, the number 8 reason to get married:

No.8 - Marriage gives you a platform to build your bloodline on

OK, so technically you don't need to be married to have a family, but marriage is still the standard method for starting a family. The nuclear family, despite its flaws, remains a sought-after model. That's why having kids is another argument in our top 10 reasons to get married. Being a father is a dimension of manhood that just about every guy wants to experience -- and marriage is the most stable and secure environment in which to start a family.

This is an easy one for Mandi and I. Both of us feel like we were put on this earth to raise a family. Now, as most of you know, we will face some challenges starting one, but we are ready to take that part of our journey head on! There's still some debate as to when that journey shall commence, but I'm guessing it will be sooner rather than later. I mean, I'm darn near an old man! I need to get this party started before it's too late :)

Check out the intro to this list here.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Check out the number nine reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Money

Here goes, the number 9 reason to get married:

No.9 - Marriage increases your earning power

You know that big-screen TV you've been saving for? Well, if you were married, you'd probably own it by now. Being married means sharing expenses and splitting the costs of major purchases. You cynics out there gripe about the money women cost you, but the money you'd spend on dinner dates and the occasional gift is dwarfed by the prospect of having an extra income in the household. Marriage means you can afford the things you could never afford on your own; it means a better home, a better car, a better vacation, and cooler stuff.

First life now money? This marriage thing is going to be even better than I thought :) I'm very fortunate to be marrying a woman whose spending habits are much like mine- we try not to buy anything!! We've had almost a permanent cringe on our face while shopping for furniture for our house, but we keep telling ourselves that this stuff will last us the next 20 years. Plus, we've been looking for really big stuff so we have to buy less of it! It has been fun though. We've had our interior designer (aka Mandi's mom) along with us which has come as a big help. Let's just say that Mandi and I don't have quite the eye that Nancy does.

Well, that's enough for now, apparently I need to go and pick out a big-screen TV!

Check out the intro to this list here.

Check out the number ten reason here.

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Life

Here goes, the number 10 reason to get married:

No.10 - Marriage makes you live longer

One of the ways that getting married improves your life is by making it last longer. Various studies have indicated that happily married men tend to outlast their single counterparts. For example, a 2006 study performed by University of California researchers contended that single people are five times more likely to die of infectious disease, nearly 40% more likely to die of heart disease and twice as likely to die accidentally. Other studies suggest that the rate of mortality is a whopping 250% higher among single men than it is among married men.

Sold!! We all need to add some years to this life and if marrying my best friend is a way to do so then I say sign me up!! It makes sense though and I totally get it. I can completely relate to this statistic in this regard: Mandi gives me the best reason yet to live longer. Not only that, but she makes me want to fight even harder to live. Not only live like taking breaths live, but really live you know? Conquer things that I've never even attempted before. Improve on the things I already do. Be a better and more caring man. Draw from her strength and cover her weakness.

I've never ever wanted NOT to live, but I feel like the first time in my life I now have a reason not to die...Mandi would kill me if I did :)

Check out the intro to this list here.