in common other than we were both from Utah and we were both equally committed to the church (and loved BYU).

Now I feel like we’re practically the same person. We know how the other thinks. We share the same opinions on almost everything. We hate to be apart for more than a day. When I’m sad she knows how to cheer me up. When I’m sick she goes out of her way to take care of me. She encourages me to spend time at my hobbies. She covers for my insecurities.

Could someone else ever be all that for me? Probably not. Could I ever replace another woman’s perfect husband? Definitely not. But if two people are committed to being the best spouses they can, I have to believe they can make it work—especially if they’re wise enough not to make comparisons to their previous spouse of several decades.

The hard thing is, I don’t know how a person can spend most of their life becoming like their first spouse, and then modify those established habits, opinions and traditions to start becoming like their second spouse. But companionship can still be fulfilling even if it’s not perfect.