Divorce permeates Western society. This contemporary phenomenon creates many questions, the most common question being many comparing romantic love to blind infatuation. Merriam-Webster defines infatuation as the deprivation of good judgment or being stupid. This state of infatuation or as society calls it, being in love is a very short-lived element in the life of a relationship as far as marriage is concerned. If more people understood the dynamics of dating, perhaps they wouldn't make such a hasty decision to rush to the altar and, therefore, to a judge to have their divorce papers signed. Since romantic love has a predictable lifespan, this experience alone is not a strong enough foundation for building a successful marriage. Romance lives abundantly at the heart of most new relationships. The flowers and little unexpected surprises he brings her, the way she dresses up to go out on the exciting dates he plans, always looking forward to the next adventure together; everything is so happy and fun at first. The other seems perfect, even impeccable. Getting to know all the exciting little details about each other is easy and everything gets better and better. For some, this is enough to light up their world and set their eternal dreams in motion. All caught up in a frenzy of insane emotions, he buys the ring, sets the incredible date, the goals, the wedding planning begins and, before anyone can rationalize anything, Boom! The perfect couple is on their way to Happily Ever After, or so they think. Once the honeymoon is over, romantic love dissipates and leaves each partner wondering if they have made the mistake of a lifetime. What happened to...... middle of paper ...... to marriage counselors who seek advice once this This stage begins because they feel they no longer love their partner and fear that divorce is the only option available. True love is an attitude that leads to behavior change. By seeking the well-being of others and finding meaningful ways to express it, true love is selfless. (Chapman, 190) Like romantic love, true love is always emotional in nature, but it is intentional and not obsessive; it takes work. Effort, discipline, willingness to work together to resolve conflicts and learning to communicate effectively with each other are essential in crossing the bridge from romantic to true love if the couple desires to achieve married life healthy. Works Cited Chapman, Gary. Love as a way of life. Chapman, Gary. Things I wish I knew before we got married. Chapman, Gary. The five love languages.