National Celibacy Awareness Month

Celebrating Celibacy

Margot Carmichael Lester, a Bible Belt born and bred freelance writer, recently discussed celibacy with a few experts in honor of June being National Celibacy Awareness Month. Here are some highlights from her article, which was posted on MSN.com. One expert, Sean Covey, author of The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make in Life, had this to say about celibacy: "Celibate singles are free of encumbered relationships where they are unsure if someone really loves them for who they are or because they are participating in a sexual relationship. They don't have to worry if someone is using them for sex because their relationship is not based upon the physical but is based upon true meaning and care. In particular, if you are a woman, you don't have to wonder if he loves you just because of your body and because you are having sex with him. You can know that he is attracted to you not only physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This also applies to men, as well." He goes on to say, "Single people who are celibate until marriage can celebrate being true to who they are and to what they value. They are free from being overwhelmed and influenced by the culture of the world that says, 'Everyone's doing it, why don't you?' Celibacy allows you to be your own person, making your own decisions without giving in to cultural pressures. Sex before marriage has only become acceptable in our generation, over the last 30 years. Before that, millions of people have lived before us where the sanctity of marriage was important and highly respected and valued." Some of Sean's other credits include the books The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens and The 8th Habit. He is also a speaker who talks to young adult groups. His educational background includes graduating with honors from Brigham Young University and earning his MBA from Harvard Business School.