ElleL2

In light of recent personal events, this idea and question of marriage has been burning a hole in my heart.  It seems I've lost all hope for a healthy vision of a marriage with someone you're in love with, that actually works.  Someone with whom you can grow with seems a rare find these days.  There is Mr. Right (for right) Now, but no Mr. Right indefinitely.  Somewhere along the trials and tribulations of life couples fall off the page, and start reading separate books altogether in some cases.  Keeping the initial connection, love and passion first experienced in the beginning of a relationship is proving to be a near impossible feat.  With the current divorce rate and a large fraction of marriages that do last being purely convenient and sadly unhappy, one is left to wonder if marriage is practical for modern day civilization. 

It seems we are all searching for the ideal mate, 'the One,' in essence our soul mate.  But what if our soul mate is just that, the mate to our soul; the other half, residing in another dimension altogether, perhaps the afterlife.  Maybe this search for the ideal mate in this world is unending because its actually a spiritual journey.  After all, the ideal mate is more or less a slightly different version of ourselves, whom we feel complement us.  So I guess the point I'm trying to make is this--perhaps The One is just that, One.  Not you and another person, but just you.  Part of which resides in this life, and part in another, helping to guide you throughout this one.  Perhaps if more people held this view, or at least gave it serious thought, people would have more realistic expectations upon entering a marriage, or steer clear of this form of commitment altogether. 

If you're reading this and thinking I flew over the cuckoo's nest or am simply just jaded or cynical, then let me ask you this... how often have you questioned your current relationship and whether or not it is ultimately the right one for you, or thought of if/how you could do better; or further yet, if you were missing out on something better while staying with your current partner?  ...Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?