Valentine’s Day is upon us, and I’m not the biggest fan of the corporate nature it has become. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t take a moment to appreciate the woman who has made my heart skip a beat.

After my divorce, I vowed to never get married again. I was in a vulnerable and lonely state of mind and the last thing I wanted was to open myself up to that level of vulnerability again. I did dabble in the dating world, but I made some rookie mistakes.

Firstly, I started dating too soon. I wasn’t over my divorce, and instead of finding meaningful relationships, I ended up just bleeding all over the people I tried to date. Not cool, Adam, not cool. Secondly, I had this idea in my head that I was unworthy of love, so I dated people who were not a good fit for me. Let’s just say it wasn’t a successful strategy.

But, then came “her.” I wasn’t expecting her at all. I was ready to swear off not only marriage, but dating altogether. Then, out of nowhere, she caught my attention. We had known each other for years, but during a late-night chat session, I found myself saying words before my filter could kick in and stop it. Thankfully, my filter failed because having her in my life is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

When we first started dating, I had nothing to my name but a cute puppy dog, nine boxes of books, two garbage bags of clothes, and a mattress on the floor. I was literally a hot mess. But, she chose me, and that’s all that mattered. She saw something in me, and despite having no money, no home, and no place that was mine, she chose me.

She has been by my side through everything. We have gone on adventures to many places, and she has stood by me through unemployment, family hardships, and the death of a friend. She’s even supported me through my bizarre career changes and strange ideas. And, when I didn’t deserve it, she forgave me and reminded me of my self-worth time and time again.

She is my person, my safe place, and the one who makes me believe that love is worth fighting for. Together or not at all, it’s us vs. the world from this day and forever.

So, on this Valentine’s Day, I want to give a shout-out to my lovely lady. Thank you for being mine and for choosing me even when I was a hot mess express. I promise to keep being the weird, quirky, and slightly chaotic partner you fell in love with. Here’s to many more adventures, laughs, and bad jokes together.