I always said I should have been born an Italian-my namesake is anyway; I was named after my uncle's Italian girlfriend at the time I was born. I was told before that my name ~Celeste means light blue in Italian (it was an Italian man who said it, so I take it to be true). I don't mean to stereotype but it's common knowledge that Italian weddings are the best and abundant. I LOVE going to weddings, it's such a good night out for me/us-I'm lucky to get to go to one a year but my Italian friends have at least two if not three to go to a year-I'm jelly (I love this expression for jealous).<br /> <br /> One thing that can be a bummer about weddings is that some, if not most don't last. I mean if I'm crying through the service and speeches and having a grand time, I want to think that the marriage is going to last, or hope it does anyway. People spend so much money and time preparing for the actual day, a year or two ahead sometimes-it's a real shame if it doesn't work out. I'd like to write on all future wedding cards and long may it last.<br /> <br /> According to this below statistic, it's probably better not to get married in your early twenties these days. My mom always said to me, and she reiterated it particularly on my 18th birthday, don't get married until you're thirty. In my opinion, I don't think the genre today are mature enough to get married young. They're still finding themselves and in marriages you have to try to be selfless, not selfish.<br /> <br /> 60 percent of marriages for couples between the ages of 20 and 25 end in divorce. National Center for Health Statistics<br /> <br /> Back in the day, one didn't have all the options and choices that are available now, for women specifically. You got married (hopefully to someone you loved), raised your children and lived probably not happily ever after. But they did live ever after-together, not apart. As in my attached picture quote if something was broken, they fixed it. Most likely patched it to the best that they could, but it worked.<br /> <br /> I know not all marriages are fixable sometimes, but I do believe that 80/20% are rather than 60/40%. We just have to try a little harder, especially if there's kids involved. I am a child of divorce, and I blame not having much confidence in myself when I was young on that. I witnessed children whose parents were still together, but mostly whose were still in love, had the most confidence. To me it's the greatest gift that we can give our children in life, along with our love for them. It does do more harm when parents stay together just for their children, and the children are unfortunately very aware of it.<br /> <br /> I just think it's way too easy these days-I honestly do! Why bother even getting married if you&acirc;��re not going into it 100%. Try, try and try again, but if it's not going to work and you've exhausted all avenues, at least you know you tried-and that's all you can do~<br /> <br /> Take care (&amp; long may your marriage/relationship last) and all the best~Celeste<br /> <br /> www.talesfromaway.com   Submitted By: Alicia "Celeste" Loughrey