by Carol Shaw-Sutton

Created on: February 04, 2009   Last Updated: February 22, 2009

I am surprised myself that I am voting "no" on this because I am not old-fashioned, in fact, I'm pretty progressive and liberal in many regards; however, let's analyse this situation as it pertains to reality, not as a fantasy, because once you wipe the cobwebs from your eyes the morning after, it's not as pretty as the way you imagined it, and I'm talking about real life, day to day life here, not a Jane Austen novel or a romance.

REAL LIFE. It's not a phrase we're all too fond of. Yes, like you, I would prefer living in some other reality, and who wouldn't with all the stress we go through day to day, but think of it, once relationships become less of a sacred thing, and you don't even need to consider marriage as the solution here, just bear with me and think of relationships as SACRED, as things that should be cherished. Now, shallow people who enjoy shallow relationships are hopefully NOT the norm, I'm talking about normal healthy people who want good relationships.

Still with me? Yes, there's a lot to think about here, but what concerns me, and probably is at the heart of the matter, is that when we stop taking our relationships as seriously by constantly changing partners and live-in partners for that matter, we're going to find out that the grass is never greener, and yet still yearn for something greener all the more. People who live together just cannot feel any sense of commitment. Well, yeah, marriage isn't as holy an institution as was once deemed either, but I can guarantee that if there is any way to kill one's sense of self-worth, especially for WOMEN, then go ahead and live with someone.

When you break up, live with the next person. Keep following this pattern and wonder to yourself why you are not married yet. Don't lie to me girls, you all secretly want to be married, or at least the majority of you do. There are so many magazines that I subscribe to that give these constant hints either in the articles I read or the letters to the editor or some relationship expert.

Another thing, doesn't living together kill the fun? I mean, if you really love the person you may as well just tie the knot already. Either you're eventually going to commit, or you're not going to commit. It's as simple as that. And if you're just not the type of person who cannot and won't commit, then either just have sex partners or live with someone, but make sure the person you're involving yourself with feels the same way, and women, be honest with yourself - don't risk getting involved with someone who you know doesn't have the same intentions in the end, it will just backfire in so many ways.

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