The Upside Of Marriage

I grew up hearing that marriage is a beautiful thing. People describe it like a warm cup of coffee on a cold morning. The truth hits a little harder. Marriage is incredible when you build it with the right person. It becomes a lifelong headache when you rush the process or fall into it because the world says it is the next step.

Marriage has real upside. You get partnership. You get a teammate who moves with you through life. You get someone who sees you on days when you feel invisible to everyone else. You get shared dreams, shared memories, shared growth. There is something powerful about waking up next to someone who knows your whole story and still chooses you every day.

There is a catch. Marriage is far too easy to enter and very difficult to exit. The government steps into your relationship the moment you sign. The rules change. The pressure changes. The consequences change. Many people do not realise that divorce is one of the most expensive emotional experiences you can go through. It becomes a legal battle, a financial war, a personal storm. That alone shows that something in the system feels backwards. It should take time to enter a marriage. It should take effort. It should require preparation.

Marriage should work the same way we approach anything important. Training. Growth. Self awareness. Compatibility checks. Values alignment. Conflict navigation. Communication strength. Couples counselling should be normal. It should not be a last resort when everything is broken. It should be a preparation step before you commit your entire life to a single person.

People prepare more for a driver’s licence than for a marriage certificate. That is a problem. Marriage shapes your family. It shapes your future children. It shapes your bank account. It shapes your mental health. It shapes your life story. It makes sense to treat it with the level of intention it deserves.

The upside of marriage shows itself when two people know what they want, who they are, and why they are choosing each other. You create a resilient relationship that stands through stress, loss, conflict, temptation, and growth. You build a foundation where trust is not fragile and love is not conditional.

Marriage becomes a gift when the process to enter it is taken seriously. Slow preparation creates stability. Clear communication creates peace. Emotional maturity creates safety. Shared values create direction.

Too many people rush into marriage and only learn the truth once they try to get out. Preparation protects you. Preparation gives you certainty. Preparation builds a relationship that can actually carry the weight of a lifelong commitment.

Marriage is not the problem. A lack of preparation is.

If we started treating marriage like something sacred and not like a quick signature at Home Affairs, more couples would succeed. More families would stay intact. More people would feel safe, loved, and understood.

Marriage works when you do the work before you sign your name.