Every little girl watches those classic fairytales when they are little imagining the day her own Prince Charming will come along and sweep her off her feet. We dream of that happily ever after and the day our glass slipper moment will happen. However, that is not a reality in today’s time. The positive connotations that come along with marriage lately have been put aside due to one thing: divorce.

When I was little I used to think of divorce as such an abstract concept. Classmates whose parents were divorced made me feel a sense of pity and abnormality for my friend. However, abnormality is not a word that divorce can be characterized by in today’s society. It’s almost as if people jump into marriage not truly realizing what is ahead, but justifying their decision because if it doesn’t work out there’s always divorce as an option. But divorce shouldn’t be an easy option.

Our culture has lost the meaning of marriage. Marriage does not mean let’s work together as a team one day and quit the next day. Marriage is not meant for termination, it isn’t meant to be an easy exit. In my opinion, when you get married you are making a commitment and promise to that person for the rest of your life. “Til death do us part,” is written in the vows you recite and promise to the person you are joining your life with. Marriage means you honor your words and promise even when times get hard. Nothing worth accomplishing in life is easy, but that is the definition of life. Don’t take your vows for granted and take an easy out just because life gets hard. That is when those vows matter the most. When you file for divorce, you’re not only cheating your partner of the commitment you made to them, but you’re cheating yourself.

When I stand across from my fiancé it is until death does us part, for sickness and for health. I want to be 90-years-old sitting next to my husband at a sporting event. I want to honor him and treasure my promise to him every day I am breathing. I know marriage won’t be like the picturesque Cinderella and Prince Charming fairy tale. But I don’t need my life to be a fairytale. I know marriage will require more work than any endeavor that I will pursue. But I don’t need easy; I just need something that will last with the person that I love.