Is Divorce Ever An Option?

One of the hardest things to do is let go of someone you loved and with whom you imagined a ‘happily ever after.'

The encyclopedia defines Divorce as the termination of marriage or marital union, the canceling and or reorganising of the legal duties and responsibilities thus dissolving the bonds of matrimony between married couple under the rule of law of the particular country/state. There are so many reasons I can bring up to justify or condemn divorce; ultimately it boils down to the parties involved. I believe in second chances or maybe even third or fourth chances (lol), but I will emphasize that it MUST not be at the expense of your life.

Physical or Emotional Abuse

It is tough to ask anyone to continue to show love or even stay while he/she is having a mental breakdown or even at risk of losing his/her life. If all hope is lost and help has been sought with no improvement, my advice is that the abused partner leaves. The length of a separation can be based on abusive partner’s willingness to seek help. (May I categorically state that the abused partner should not stay in the marriage while the abusive partner is seeking help because the abused partner also needs to be healed of all psychological traumas and needs to be in a place where she [or he] is been showered with love).

Infidelity, Irresponsibility, and other Problems

While these reasons can be highly debated as critical or not, no one is in a position to tell another adult how to live his/her life irrespective of tradition and or religion. On the other hand, while all or some of these reasons can lead to temporal separation; I would say; ‘Let’s not give up on love or loved ones so easily, let’s do all we can to make them the best they used to be or want to be.' In conclusion, even though your union will have its own challenges; it must make you feel loved, happy and fulfilled. If it doesn’t, please do something about it but divorce as a last resort, or much earlier if your mental or physical health is at risk.

Written by Olayinka Adelekan