A problem shared is a problem halved. Well, until it’s not, and a problem shared becomes the reason your marriage blows up and why you’re suddenly regretting not listening to your mum when she said, “Dear, do you really need a ceremony that costs more than the deposit for a decent sized apartment in London?” Mum was right. You could’ve had a decent-sized flat as a pension investment instead of a honeymoon “to remember” and a fiveyear credit card bill to pay off.
Apologies if I sound annoyed by the marketing machine otherwise known as marriage; that’s because I am. Not only does it leave young couples strung out and broke before they’ve even set off to build a life together, but I bet at no point before the big day did either partner have “The Chat”. As for “The Chat”. I’ll come onto that in a moment, but first, the propaganda – the latest of which comes in the form of a survey that reports that married people are less likely than their single counterparts to be depressed. Lol. The survey of 120,000 people from seven countries shows that no matter where people lived, those who were married showed fewer signs of depression.
On the surface, it would certainly seem The Marrieds have it all sorted, especially during the night when the worry monster pays us singletons an unwanted visit – 3am, eyes wide open, fear coursing through our nervous system, it feels like we’re having a heart attack. Not The Marrieds who, after a mere pat to their right, confirm, phew, their beloved spouse is right there beside them. Cosy in the knowledge everything will be OK because they are not alone and off they fall back to sleep. Granted, being single during stressful periods can feel isolating and nothing short of grim, but let me tell you, that’s nothing compared to trying to exist within a lonely marriage.
Denne historien er fra November 07, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 07, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Draper dreams of joining exclusive club in Miami
Victory would match exploits of Sampras, Agassi and Federer
Phillipson: Leave London to see scale of schools crisis
A war of words has erupted over Bridget Phillipson’s school reforms, with the education secretary urging critics to try leaving London for a change”.
'In everything, Americans want to win. It's the culture'
United States manager Mauricio Pochettino talks to Miguel Delaney about how the nation could soon dominate football
While he's Trump's friend, Netanyahu is never going to end the bloodshed in Gaza
Conscious of the need not to infuriate unnecessarily Benjamin Netanyahu on whom the fate of the 59 Israelis still held in Gaza depends – the country’s Hostage and Missing Families’ Forum usually tries to weigh its words with care.
Ending two-child cap 'could lift 600,000 out of poverty'
Scrapping the two-child benefit cap would lift 600,000 children out of poverty in the next five years, analysis has found.
Ukraine left hog-tied by one-sided plan hamstrung and
The apparent olive branch offered by Moscow after lengthy talks in fact suits the Kremlin tactically, writes Sam Kiley
Burn's tall order from Asda shifts to Three Lions call-up
Dan Burn can complete a journey from non-league to senior international with his first cap this week, writes Richard Jolly
'No, we can't': the cry of a party a long way from power
In her speech to launch the Tories’ new policy programme, Kemi Badenoch struck a humble note.
Society will suffer without free emergency contraception
/—__~ Ordinarily, there are many barriers to accessing emergency contraception. Beyond the expense y and awkward opening times, there’s the pain and embarrassment of the compulsory consultation, the fear of being stigmatised and judged – or, worse still, being spotted by someone you know.
Kendall passes two key tests but is not out of minefield
The test for Liz Kendall was simple, according to one Labour insider. If the response to her statement is dominated by wheelchair users protesting that they will be worse off, she will have failed. If, on the other hand, the focus of the debate is about getting more people into work, she will have succeeded.
