OUR FIRST YEAR AS HUSBAND AND WIFE

Some people say the first year of marriage is tough. If that's the most common case, we are blessed. If anything, our relationship becomes better each day. We've been together for two years and married for a year, with each day that has passed, we've become better and more comfortable with each other. I'm not saying we didn't face any challenges, we do. But it's not our relationship, those strong winds come from outside factors and we're lucky our ground is strong. 
Taufan and I don't find it hard to adjust to cohabitation, though it's a huge adjustment period. We are learning how to share space and live together. Moving into a shared space might bring to light the differences and preferences each of us may have, and that will need compromise, patience, and healthy communication. Mundane domestic adjustments also happened naturally. I like to organise things, clean, and do house chores. Taufan is someone who also likes to do stuff too, so we take turns. This matter is probably the easiest for us to adjust. It happens so naturally that with no hesitation, we help each other to take care of our place and things. 
Adjusting our financial situation is also fairly easy for us. I'm not a shopaholic and neither is Taufan. So it's not a big problem as we only stick to what we need. We are both also fine with missing out - none of us cares about hype and stuff like that. Way before we got married, we already talked about finance and how we wanted to organise that. 
One thing that I understand why it feels so natural for us to blend together is none of us have a high degree of expectations. We of course have certain expectations, but neither of us forces the expectations to one another. We communicate things. We keep learning how to communicate our needs, preferences, and concerns. We discuss uncomfortable topics. Although on some days, some things lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, we never go to bed angry. Whenever we have misunderstandings, we take time alone, and when we are both ready we talk about it. We plant this mantra in our heads: it's not us against each other but us against the problem. 
Our healthy communication is something we are both proud of and this saves us from unnecessary drama. 
We both still learning is to blend two families together. There are some things that I personally found challenging to comprehend from one side or conflicted with my perspectives. It can be hard for us to navigate our spouse’s family when they may have different religious or political values, tense relationships with siblings, and some degree of toxicity. I'm thankful whenever there's a problem from outside, both Taufan and I think objectively and discuss it together. Tackling different family traditions and cultures can create stress, trigger trauma, and poke their mental issues that's why it is important to have a spouse who can be open-minded and objective, just as important as to have a spouse who can defend you, especially from their family. After all, it is OUR relationship, not our family's. Learning to differentiate and understand what's best for you, your spouse and your family can be challenging, but it is not impossible. You must, it's very important for you and your spouse. 
I believe every relationship is unique and couples have their own way of dealing with their problems. Some say Taufan and I are still in our honeymoon period, but really, since the beginning of our relationship, we are always like this. We struggle through big changes together and I think we did an amazing job as nobody knows how we deal with that. The point is that your first year of marriage should only make you more sure of the person you’ve chosen to be your one and only. Your 'The One' should give you energy instead of taking it from you.