It's undeniable that such things tend to put a dampener on those who are looking forward to marital bliss; the entire institution of marriage just gets thrown out of the window when you're acting lovey-dovey for so many years but, the moment you get married, the lifeline of your relationship starts to burn away the moment you don the wedding band. So ironic, especially when so much effort, time, sweat, blood and tears has been put in to craft these perfect wedding scenarios. Remember that 100-table wedding dinner at the Ritz-Carlton? And the homemade chili paste wedding gift? And the 'live' telecast of the wedding? And the elaborate, over-the-top wedding gowns? What about the 'I love you's and the 'Baby's and the 'Darling's?
You may snub me for ignoring the perilous path of marriage - "What makes an unmarried woman like you think that you know how difficult it is to maintain a marriage?" Fine, you can chide me all you want but, be it a married or unmarried couple, isn't the basis of it all compromise? I know I haven't been faithful to the concept of compromise (considering how stubborn I am at times), but shouldn't all problems end in compromise? Then again, what is your definition of compromise? Just shut up and bear a grudge? Or accept the way things are? Or apathy? Or really sit down and iron things out? I've had my share of quarrels and petty arguments - which couple hasn't - over the past 38 months, and I've learnt a lot about compromise.
But I guess all these break-ups, including those around me, make me a stronger believer of marriage. And, selfish as it might sound, I'd rather be learning the lesson from others' mistakes than to commit them and face the dire consequences myself.
