Yes, can you believe it? The week my honey turns the big 5-0, this is the Monday Listicles topic of the week:

The young couple (Osaka, around 1988)

If you know Mike, you are aware that he loves to be the center of attention!

Before I met Mike in Japan, I had seen a counselor when I was in college. My college boyfriend–who had broken up with me–expressed interest in reconciling, and I was confused. My counselor asked me to make a list of the characteristics I was looking for in a man. Several years after I married Mike, I found that list again…and was amazed that he possessed every one of those characteristics…down to the fine details of spirituality, similar political beliefs and moral values, close to his family, sense of travel and adventure, and a great singing voice! The bottom line of that list–and why I decided not to reconcile with my college boyfriend–was SELF-CONFIDENCE. A person with true, healthy self-confidence doesn’t need to make other people feel “less than”…and self-confidence supported many of the other characteristics. I also knew that I wanted a man who appreciated a strong woman–those are extremely hard to find! I consider myself extremely fortunate to have met him at the young age of 22, and I can’t imagine a more perfect partner in life for me.

So here are just 10 of the reasons why he is so awesome:

My handsome groom at our wedding in 1990

1. He is truly kind and compassionate (even though he likes to pretend that he is a snob!)…to the elderly, homeless, underprivileged, and children. In spite of attending a posh British boarding school and being raised with an au pair, he is a true man of the people.

2. He has an outstanding wit and ability to be silly. The first time I met him, he read a funny, obscene Robert Burns poem.

3. He is extremely intelligent and wise. I have improved my vocabulary just by knowing him. He broadens my mind.

Mike with a young Chris and his Aunty Gena  (he has always been so dedicated to his family)

4. He loves his family, community, and friends with an open, genuine heart, and expresses his affection freely. He is also an amazing dad!

5. He is upbeat, outgoing, gregarious, and social, even though he’s actually an introvert (defined as needing to recharge on his own, which is why it works for him to be a stay-at-home dad).

Mike with the boys during “Banned Books Week”

6. He has a lovely English accent. I never get tired of listening to him!

7. He is a talented writer who will be famous one day, I’m sure of it! When I read his writing, I am delighted by his creativity and imagination. I prefer to stick with nonfiction myself! I don’t know how he comes up with all of his ideas.

8. He is deeply spiritual and cares about social justice and equality for all of the world’s inhabitants.

9. He loves to travel and explore new places and ideas. What better place to meet a fellow adventurer but in a foreign land?

Digging into birthday cake  with his sister and sister-in-law

10. He brings joy and love to my life every day. Before we got married, we spent 3 months traveling through Asia together (and got engaged in India). If one can survive 24 hours/day with someone for 3 months and rarely squabble or tire of each other, you’re set. In the past 26 years, I have never gotten tired of spending time with him.

Mike turns 50 on Thursday, March 21, and he also LOVES birthdays. So we are celebrating his birth week in a big way. His mum and sister-in-law arrived from Cambridge, England, last Thursday, and on Friday night our sister-in-law from Australia flew up from California on Friday to take us all out for dinner to celebrate. I am delighted to be able to honor my amazing husband in Monday Listicles this week. I cannot believe I got so lucky to find him in Japan and marry him!

I love you, sweetheart! Here’s wishing the very best in the next 50 years of your life.

Monday Listicles is brought to us by Stasha at The Good Life. Click the link to read more!