Marriage
Lasting Marriages
By: Pam d’Artenay
ENGLISH 121
Mr. Dai’Re
March 7, 2013
What does it take to make a marriage last? Recent statistics show that more than half of marriages end up in divorce. (CDC-, 2012) What goes wrong? Do people give up too quickly? Is it a matter of not knowing how to make it work? Some of the skills needed to make a marriage last consist of intimacy, passion, forgiveness, commitment, compromise, common values, and conflict-resolution skills. However, the most important skill that couples must learn knows how to communicate. Communication is essential in being able to relate to your partner and knowing if you are on the same page or not. Communication teaches us how to negotiate conflict, how to be an effective listener, and how to share openly. (Your-Marriage, 2011) Comparatively, passion and intimacy in a marriage are just as important. (My-Life-Stages, 2012) Being physically and emotionally attracted to someone leads to many other things. Without passion and intimacy there would not be that spark. Being intimate with someone makes you feel close, connected, needed, and wanted. (Wolport, 2012) We as human being need to feel wanted, useful, as if we are here on this earth for a specific purpose. In addition to passion and intimacy, there is commitment. Without commitment your marriage has no direction, no structure. (White, 2012) The foundation of a marriage is built on commitment. If you are not committed to something no matter what it is, you are saying that it isn’t important to you. When you take those vows, to be committed to someone for the rest of your life, it should be a decision you don’t make lightly. It will be and should be one of the most important decisions you make in your life. Sometimes, in a marriage, there will be a need for sacrifice, compromise, and forgiveness. Everything cannot be great all the time, but it can be good most of the time. (Nauert, 2012) If you are willing to give more than
By: Pam d’Artenay
ENGLISH 121
Mr. Dai’Re
March 7, 2013
What does it take to make a marriage last? Recent statistics show that more than half of marriages end up in divorce. (CDC-, 2012) What goes wrong? Do people give up too quickly? Is it a matter of not knowing how to make it work? Some of the skills needed to make a marriage last consist of intimacy, passion, forgiveness, commitment, compromise, common values, and conflict-resolution skills. However, the most important skill that couples must learn knows how to communicate. Communication is essential in being able to relate to your partner and knowing if you are on the same page or not. Communication teaches us how to negotiate conflict, how to be an effective listener, and how to share openly. (Your-Marriage, 2011) Comparatively, passion and intimacy in a marriage are just as important. (My-Life-Stages, 2012) Being physically and emotionally attracted to someone leads to many other things. Without passion and intimacy there would not be that spark. Being intimate with someone makes you feel close, connected, needed, and wanted. (Wolport, 2012) We as human being need to feel wanted, useful, as if we are here on this earth for a specific purpose. In addition to passion and intimacy, there is commitment. Without commitment your marriage has no direction, no structure. (White, 2012) The foundation of a marriage is built on commitment. If you are not committed to something no matter what it is, you are saying that it isn’t important to you. When you take those vows, to be committed to someone for the rest of your life, it should be a decision you don’t make lightly. It will be and should be one of the most important decisions you make in your life. Sometimes, in a marriage, there will be a need for sacrifice, compromise, and forgiveness. Everything cannot be great all the time, but it can be good most of the time. (Nauert, 2012) If you are willing to give more than