Divorce permeates Western society. This contemporary phenomenon creates many questions with the most common question being: many compare romantic love to blind infatuation. Merriam-Webster defines infatuation as the deprivation of common sense or being senseless. This state of infatuation or as society calls it, being in love is a very brief aspect in the life of a relationship as far as marriage is concerned. If more people understood the dynamics of the phenomenon of falling in love, perhaps they would not be so hasty in making the decision to run to the altar and, consequently, to a judge to have the divorce papers signed. Because romantic love has a predictable lifespan, this experience alone is not enough of a strong enough foundation for building a successful marriage. Romance lives in abundance at the heart of most new relationships. The flowers and unexpected little surprises he shows up with, the way she dresses up to go out on the exciting dates he plans, always looking forward to the next adventure with each other; at first everything is so happy and fun. The other person seems perfect, flawless even. Knowing all the little exciting details about each other happens with ease and everything is always on the up and up. For some, this alone is enough to brighten their world and set their lifelong dreams in motion. Caught up in a frenzy of senseless emotions, he buys the ring, sets the amazing date, the goals, begins the wedding planning and, before anyone can rationalize anything, Boom! The perfect couple is on their way to living happily ever after, or so they think. Once the honeymoon phase is over, romantic love dissipates and leaves each partner wondering if they've made the mistake of their lives. What happened to… middle of paper… to marriage counselors seeking guidance 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 a change in behavior. By seeking the well-being of another and finding meaningful ways to express it, true love is selfless. (Chapman,190) Like romantic love, true love is still emotional in nature, but it is intentional, not obsessive; requires work. Effort, discipline, willingness to work together to resolve conflicts and learn to communicate effectively with each other are essential to cross the bridge between romantic love and true love if the couple wishes to achieve a healthy married life. Works Cited Chapman, Gary. Love as a lifestyle. Chapman, Gary. Things I wish I knew before we got married. Chapman, Gary. The five love languages.