A Deeper Understanding

My boyfriend and I went on vacation to Mexico to celebrate his birthday, as well as to enjoy our growing relationship. My primary intention for the exciting experience was to remain abstinent. I truly believe that everything falls into place, according to God’s will, when I’m abstinent.

The all-inclusive resort had plenty of restaurants as well as a buffet that had everything I needed to stay abstinent. The challenge was that my boyfriend wanted to explore the different restaurants, but I needed to dine where there were simple, abstinent meals. I tapped into the courage to advocate for myself while being mindful of his needs. I asked God for help, and it became clear that for the remainder of the trip, I would have the most peace of mind eating at the buffet. We ate two meals together each day but chose to eat dinner separately because it met both of our needs better. We met up after dinner and enjoyed our time together even more. It felt like my Higher Power took over the entire trip in a beautiful, magical way when my priority was to stay abstinent.

I really felt supported by my boyfriend one day when we were leaving the resort for an excursion. He asked me if I had packed my abstinent food. He knew we would be away for a good part of the day and was mindful of my desire to remain abstinent. It occurred to me that when I take care of myself, God takes care of everything else.

This trip was a great turning point in our relationship. We learned a lot about each other, enjoyed each other’s company, and came to a deeper understanding of one another. I discovered that he loves to work out, so we went to the gym and went running, even while on vacation. To be honest, I wondered why we had to exercise while on vacation, but I decided to be a team player. I’m sure he wondered why I had to eat abstinently while on vacation, but he respected it and even advocated for it. There appeared to be an unspoken understanding between us and the importance of our individual ways of life, no matter the circumstances. Today, my boyfriend has a beautiful respect for my abstinence, and I respect the priority he puts on daily exercise. I’m truly grateful for this understanding between us, thanks to our beautiful experience in Mexico.