clearing the deck - the marriage status thread

So what's the reason for divorce assuming that two people got married in the first place for "the right reasons" (read: both took the vows intending to make an honest go of marriage). When you've gotten married for the "wrong reasons" (got pregnant, to get out of parents' house or some other living situation, wanting to control the other person, etc.), the reason will be apparent. I've no idea how many marriages that would account for. Probably a lot but they aren't the ones I struggle with. Not even the ones where one or both admit to themselves when already in that it was a mistake but you "play it out". And not the ones that suffered the especially poignant trauma of losing a child where I imagine just the individual act of breathing is difficult enough to manage let alone navigating your role as part of a couple.

No, the reasons for divorce that I struggle with are the ones where the parties enter with a good faith "love conquers all" mindset and still end up in a heap because those aren't a small number either. The ones where as sentient human beings we've entered into it "reverently, discreetly, advisedly and soberly" because we know none of us are a perfect clean slate and we all have our own peccadilloes, micro traumas, macro traumas, etc. we bring to the marriage and agree to work through .... and then just don't. 'Cause those ones at least should all work, right?

I think in those cases, eventually the hormones wear off and the couple finds that they are just too different to live together comfortably. I think that happens... people can be wildly attracted to each other and be decent people, but just don't mesh well together in life.

Or they initially were compatible, but life is long and people change. And that doesn't mean change for the worse or better, just different, and they find that they have different interests and different goals. It's sad, but not tragic I think.

I'm sorry guido - the separation may be for the best, but I imagine its still got to be weird and sad when things don't work out the way you hope. I hope you build a life you enjoy for you and your kids (and wife - even if it means not being together anymore).

To echo CCS and Taxpe - I see online some discussion in women's forums/subreddits about decentering men. Which seems like a good idea. I don't see as much of that (decentering women) in men's discussion groups. I mean I see advice to guys facing heartbreak or whatever to go to the gym or work on self improvement... but the focus seems to be on making the woman regret her choice or to find the next woman. Instead of just being a person you like.

I think there's a tremendous pressure in society to find a partner or to have sex. And I think to some degree that's fine - sex is great. So is having a life partner. But I think too much emphasis is placed on it - it becomes the single variable judge their self worth on. That feels unhealthy to me.