We believe that everything we go through in life serves a purpose, and that the person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with comes into your life when the universe, God, or whatever you believe in, knows you are truly ready for love. For me, Jonathan, love has often felt like a losing battle—something I could never seem to win. I searched, I found, and I experienced more than my fair share of disappointment and heartbreak. I remember one night at work, talking with my friends, and saying, “I just don’t want to do this anymore—date with high hopes only to be let down in the end.” My friends recommended the dating app called Hinge, and my first thought was, “Why would I waste my time and energy on something I’ve already tried?” Dating apps had never been a great experience for me, and I honestly wanted nothing to do with them. It wasn’t until one of my co-workers sat me down and said, “What do you have to lose? It’s only $24.99. You’ll never know what could happen if you never try.” I brushed it off at first, saying, “Nah, I’m good.” But for the rest of the night, my friend Candy kept walking past me, chanting “$24.99” like it was a sacred mantra. By 3 a.m., I finally surrendered, pulled out my phone, and paid the $24.99. A week later, I saw a profile of this handsome silver fox and thought, “Well now…who is this?” I was drawn to something we’ve all experienced—the essence of Jim. I swiped right, thinking, “Oh well, I tried.” I never expected us to match. To my surprise, I got a notification—and it was Jim. We chatted on Hinge for nearly two months before meeting in person. When we finally met, I remember thinking, “Okay, this is a good-looking man.” He was charming, engaging, and had a sense of humor I immediately loved. I was wrapped up in every second we spent together. Fast forward a little—we were on a cute date night, dinner and a movie. I was sitting next to him, holding his hand, when suddenly I felt something strong wash over me. At first, I thought, “Maybe it’s food poisoning.” Then my face felt flushed, my heart started racing, and I wondered if I was having atrial fibrillation. But it wasn’t that either. Before I could even process it, the words “I think I love you” tumbled out of my mouth. The moment I said it, the feeling subsided. I was a little embarrassed—and maybe a bit ridiculous for saying it so soon—but when I looked at Jim, he just smiled and said, “Thank you.” Fast forward again to today—and here we are. I am marrying my best friend, one of the most supportive people I have ever known, and a man with a heart of gold. If you know Jim, you know what a truly good person he is. Oh—and for the record—it took him an entire month to finally say “I love you” back.