Think back to the circumstances under which you married, if you are or have been married. I am speaking now primarily to persons who are married or have been married, although there are very serious implications for those who are in the process of selecting a mate. The reason I am reserving this to those of us who are married or have been married is that hindsight brings with it an amazingly accurate insight, compared to feelings of the present.

…………………………………………………

Be honest with yourself. Why did you marry that man? What did you think you could get from him? Why did you marry that woman? What did you see in her? What could she give you? Some of us will have to scratch our memories a bit. We are now 10, 20, 30, 40 to 50 years beyond that important decision. You see how culturally conditioned that decision was. He met a role expectation, didn't he? She met a role expectation, didn't she? He looked like he would be so successful. She was so pretty. He was such an athlete. Your mother said he was better for you than the other guy. Your parents said that she came from such a good home. Think of all the bartering that goes on in our minds. For some of us, we lived in a time when couples just naturally got married at the time they graduated from high school or college. So what did they do? Some just married the person they happened to be going with at that point in life. Just think of what that is. Here we are between age 18 and 25, seeing the world from that limited perspective and blurred somewhat by that crazy mix of hormones.

…………………………………………………