Love & Marriage Myths
I think that many myths that surround marriage give couples unrealistic expectations. Disappointment is sure to come for people who are looking for the Cinderella-like happily-ever-after storybook marriage year after year.
If you watch late night TV, enjoy classic movies, listen to love songs, or read romantic novels, then you may have an image of marriage that never, ever was.
Do you remember or have you watched Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet, Bewitched, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Donna Reed Show, Lassie, and Cinderella?
Think about the fact that nearly all of these households were the traditional family of mom, dad, and kids. They didn’t seem to have any real problems either because there are no story lines about prior marriages, step-children, physical abuse, infidelities, drinking problems, drugs, dropping out of school, political discussions, civil disobedience, unemployment, severe economic problems, and threats or even thoughts of divorce. The father was the breadwinner and the mother made the bread. Until All in the Family came along, plots seemed to focus on white lies, mischief, and misunderstandings.
These shows made us believe that life was wonderful, that all of our needs could be met by our spouse, children were the icing on the cake, marriage would solve all of our problems, and we would live happily ever after.
Now before I start talking anot MY Marriage Myths I just need to say that what ever happens, these myths are personal opinion, I’m not generalizing it, and I’m not expecting everybody to see it true, but that jusy how I see it.
REALITY: Many married people are still very lonely.
REALITY: A couple complements one another, not completes one another.
REALITY: There are a lot of unmarried people who are extremely happy.
REALITY: It is a societal issue that needs to be openly addressed so that monogamy becomes more attainable for more people.
REALITY: Nearly all relationships experience peaks and valleys. The everyday problems and challenges of married life can often cloud over romantic feelings. This is when making the decision to love is important.
REALITY: We can’t expect our spouse to be our one source of happiness. Our personal happiness must come from within ourselves. Marriage can complement our own individual happiness but it can’t be the primary source.
REALITY: A good marriage doesn’t just happen. It takes nurturing and work.
REALITY: Just because we’re married doesn’t mean we can read minds. We have to tell our spouses what our needs are.
REALITY: Conflict happens in every marriage. Fighting fair and for the relationship, and not just to “win” is healthy in a marriage.
I believe a marriage needs love, support, tolerance, communication, realistic expectations, caring, nurturing, and a sense of humor to be successful. Many of the more recent television shows like Mad About You, Home Improvement, To Have and To Hold, The Cosby Show, Dharma & Greg, and Everybody Loves Raymond reflect these values and show that marriages can survive conflict, disappointment, and problems.
I guess what I’m trying to say after all thsese myths is Love is looked as thing given to you not as a thing given a away. Love has to be given, love is not hugging , kissing, and holding, sending flowers ar cards or anything of that sort I know, so many girls that get caught up in how romantic a guy is. Sometimes, I’m almost afraid to voice my opinions to the other girls, but, I don’t want a guy to always be doing romantic stuff for me. I WON”T love a person because of what he does for me, i’ll love a person for who he is to me.
Love, TRUE LOVE, is putting up witha person day after day and learnong not to be bothered by the little things that aooy you. LOVE is staying with a person because you committed to doing so forever. Love is realizing that you care about the other person more than you care about youreself. Love is commitment.
January 11th, 2007 at 3:38 AM
January 11th, 2007 at 3:41 AM
January 11th, 2007 at 9:07 AM