“So what?” I hear you say. Every time I tell this story, those who believe that “love conquers all” tell me that if we really loved each other we would overcome any age difference issues. (Except that the same people can’t explain why lots of fairy-tale marriages end in very real, painful divorces — despite the ‘love’ they had for each other at first. But I digress.)

The reality was that with a wedding and my lifetime on the horizon, I had to make a decision. Long story short, I let her go. Not because I doubted, but because I believed in something better for both of us.

Fast forward to 2012.

I have now been married to my beautiful wife for over 20 years and we’re both happy beyond our wildest 1990s dreams.

The point is that back then, that ONE DECISION could have taken me down a very, very different road. Every day it amazes me how one decision can impact your life for years to come.