Most of us have heard of the saying, "if you don't plan on marrying them, then there's no point," at least one point in our lives. Though the quote has good intentions and holds some truth, it should not be taken 100% literally in my opinion. The quote means that the focus should be on the destination.
When you first begin dating someone, how in the world are you supposed to envision yourself marrying them? Of course, you can't, because it takes a very long time to be able to see that.
Every relationship, no matter how seemingly perfect, must take time to truly develop and grow. Yes, I do believe that some relationships may blossom faster than others, but it's going to take a while to get to the point of being able to see yourself married.
The goal of dating should be more focused on the journey, not so much on the destination. Destinations are rocky. They can change at any given moment; there is no telling where life is going to guide you.
Learning and growing take place during the actual journey. If you are enjoying the journey with your significant other, then keep at it, even though the island is blocked by some fog.
With that being said, if the journey is leading you nowhere, then maybe the relationship should end. Journeys are continuous. They should be moving forward, from point A to point B. If your journey with your significant other is going in a toxic circle, then there's no destination at all.
Yes, it is absolutely okay if you don't see the destination clearly. It is okay if you cannot envision marriage with your partner, but make sure that you can see the next step along the journey.
Often times when people dive into a new relationship, they panic when there is a bump in the road. The moment that perfectly envisioned future goes away, the point in the relationship becomes blurred for them.
Bumps are expected in journeys. What great adventure movie had absolutely no battles and problems? None, because there is never smooth sailing to reach something great.
Don't let the inability to see a marriage make you question your relationship if the journey is moving forward. Yes, the ultimate goal with a relationship is to be with that person for the rest of your life, but don't let that rule the relationship.
The focus should be taking things a day at a time. Of course, it's very important and necessary to be able to talk about the future. However, don't lose the relationship in the huge goal of marriage.