| There are marriages and there are marriages. | | | | When you've been married nearly 27 years, the |
| You can expect/demand the sun, moon and the | | | | first lesson you learn is that marriage is a |
| stars or almost nothing. It's a question of | | | | relationship which, like human beings themselves, is |
| personality and perspective. But there is no doubt | | | | constantly morphing and evolving. It's an equation |
| that the most important thing in a marriage, as in | | | | where the variables change the answers |
| any other relationship, is honesty and real | | | | constantly. People sometimes lead married lives |
| understanding. | | | | together with infidelity between them. Children, |
| In a marriage of the kind we all yearn to have, | | | | autumn love, companionship allow such |
| fidelity is vital. It implies a commitment that's total | | | | relationships to survive. |
| and complete. You seek the closest intimacy | | | | But at the end of the day, it's really what you |
| possible from no one else, so sufficient is the love | | | | want from your marriage and partner. You can |
| you receive. What could be more reassuring, | | | | survive infidelity (don't we survive everything?), |
| more meaningful? But a relationship that intense, | | | | but that's the right word, isn't it? Survive. If you |
| comes with a price tag. | | | | want more, you have to sacrifice something. That |
| And infidelity in a relationship based on such love | | | | my friend, is the nature of the beast. |
| can be shattering. Nothing can fix that first fine | | | | Michael Douglas is a marriage counseler and |
| careless rupture. Trust is ruptured forever. It's a | | | | relationship expert who provides marriage advice |
| betrayal that leaves you feeling painfully | | | | and help for problems in marriage relationship. He |
| inadequate. | | | | also owns a website where you would love to try |
| You look back through the prism of time and | | | | love quiz and relationship test which provide you |
| realise how wonderfully didactic you were in your | | | | with your exact relationship stats with your |
| youth! At 25, black and white could never | | | | partner. |
| co-exist. But then, life happens. And you realise | | | | Also don't forget to check out the relationship |
| that grey exists, and it is often a zone that needs | | | | advice blog which is all meant to help couples and |
| far more maturity and understanding to inhabit | | | | singles building healthy and successful relationship. |
| than you ever dreamt. | | | | |