arisadelle wrote...
While I think it's narrow-minded to think all marriages are a certain way just because people are bad at communicating and not many are able to sustain long and healthy relationships, I really see no reason someone has to get married.
Only 50% of marriages end in divorce (much higher for remarriages), but I like to look at the half-ful glass and agree, comunication is the key. Sometimes that communication will be arguments, sometimes it will be fights. It is how you communicate that will help your marriage/commitment go the distance. If you don't respect your parter(s), you will hurt them. And eventually, that hurt cannot be repaired.
Gravity cat wrote...
Marriage is an expensive commitment. In more ways than one.
I humbly disagree, I think it all depends on what you value. If you value money, marriage can make you richer (divorce makes you poorer). You get a better tax break when you marry.
What value do you put on visiting a spouse in the hospital? If your loved one became sick and you don't have the marriage cert, hospitals will not include you in the decision care process, i.e. treatments and status.
Also, what value do you place on loneliness? I hated being single. So much so it almost ended me. That was almost the most expensive decision of my life. I was lucky.
My partner and I waited until everyone in our state could marry (marriage equality). For us, it was simply a way to ensure that we could visit each other in the hospital, make medical decisions for each other, and inherit property (hassle free). For us, it was the practical benefits that were important. We have been together almost 20 years. We considered ourselves 'joined' long ago.
I don't think marriage is the issue of the original OP. The question is whether it is worth it to share your life with someone. For me, there was never any doubt. I yearned for that closeness since I was in grade school. Someone to hold, someone to hold me. I can't put a price on it. But everyone is different. Not everyone needs someone to feel complete.
My advice is to determine if you want to spend your life with someone. If so, find out how to make it happen. But be true to yourself. When I was alone, I told myself alot of lies, to try and make life bearable. But they were what caused me the most pain. The truth really did set me free and hope it does for everyone.