The concept for getting married for love is relatively new. Centuries past, marriage was seen as a form of alliance between families, protection for women, or a way to gain power for some. People did not get married with the expectation of living happily ever after. They saw it as just another step necessary to ensure survival. Has that added pressure of finding everlasting happiness in marriage the reason why some are reluctant to take that step or why some easily decide to end it?

It is pretty heavy to place the burden of one’s happiness completely on another especially if someone doesn’t even know what exactly makes them happy? Everything evolves and we are evolving even faster than our ancestors. Therefore, our needs and wants changes often in our lifetime. Some partners may be able to keep up and some won’t. In the beginning of a relationship a couple may start off wanting the same things and be heading in the same direction, but later on down the line, the paths may diverge. A career could take one person to a whole other place leaving the second person in the relationship left to wonder whether they should follow or carve their own road. At some point in time in a relationship one person will have to choose between following and leading. How does one decide which role they want to take? Which role will provide that happily ever after feeling? The uncertainty could be one of the reasons why many remain paralyzed in whatever situation they could be in. They stay in one spot afraid that if they a step in any sort of direction, it could lead them to disapointment.

It is easier to remember that life is truly a journey. The experiences are to enrich and teach us. Nothing is permanent. By remembering that, it could take a lot pressure off of making decisions. Any type of commitment will require some sacrafice, it is just a matter of deciding how much sacrafice one is willing to make? Also, is the sarcafice worth it?