Not the marrying kind.

The ideas surrounding romantic love have changed greatly in the last few decades. Hilariously, the romantic illusions of marriage and life long commitment have not. These days it's impossible to come face to face with a newly married couple and not instinctively question if the union will last.

In our culture we have been taught to believe in the comfortable simplicity of love conquering all. Therefore, the notion of someone marrying another for reasons outside of love raises questions of loyalty, morality and ethics.
We brand people that put economic or social needs ahead of love and commitment to another as pariahs and outcasts. We make lofty judgement about them selling their souls and dismiss their character as being worthless and low. In our society, love conquers all and that's that. Your status, upbringing, social standing, education, interests, worldview, emotional needs, random psychosis and personal baggage are things of weak standing in the shadow of the overwhelming power of love. Do not dare to say otherwise, lest you be branded of weak romantic constitution.

Sadly, as many of us have learned through personal experience, love does not conquer all. There is little real power in the act of loving someone bent on destroying themselves, save for the ability to pull you down with them. There is little love can do to feed a family, educate your children or rescue you from future of crushing disillusionment. Marriage that considers such factors is no less difficult than one entered into with them and I doubt seriously that life would get any easier when addressing them.

If I may though- Love greatly and never look back. If only because you can.