Is Wedded Bliss an oxymoron?
A few days ago, I officiated at a wedding where the couple had different religious practices. In my marriage talk, I spoke about the pitfalls and promises inherent in any marriage and I addressed some of the things people can do to shore up or save their marriage. I talked about the purpose of marriage and what it means to children, adults and society in general. After the ceremony, many people approached me to thank me. “Your talk covered everything,” one guest said, “I’d like to get a copy of the dvd.” A couple of people quietly confided that their own marriages were in trouble, deep trouble and requested the assistance of our agency, Dasi-Ziyad Family Institute.
Is wedded bliss an oxymoron? Some people say it is. They say that marriage and bliss generally don’t go together. For those who need a refresher: an oxymoron is an apparent contradiction, a pairing of two things that don’t mix or match. At Dasi-Ziyad Family Institute, we say that wedded bliss is not an oxymoron. When people get married, can they expect happiness or joy? We say emphatically yes!
But there are some conditions:
1. The couple should get premarital relationship education or counseling, at least 10-12 hours of it. These relationship education sessions should be comprehensive, covering, the baggage we bring from our families of origin, financial matters, parenting, goal-setting, communication, conflict-resolution, values clarification, realistic expectations and more.
OR, if you are already married, you should spend the time and resources to get marriage enrichment. You can take marriage education classes or workshops, attend couple retreats, read or view relationship/marriage books, articles and DVDs.
2. The two people should understand that marriage is a life-long commitment.
3. The two people should get the blessings of elders in their families and communities.
4. The couple should be willing to work hard on their marriage, utilizing the relationship skills/tools they’ve learned.
5. And finally, the couple should build their marriage on at least these four fundamental spiritual principles: Truthfulness, Compassion, Cleanliness, and Self-discipline.
All – IN – ONE MARRIAGE PREP: 75 Experts Share Tips & Wisdom to Help You Get Ready Now
Co-Directors Krsnanandini and Tariq, have three articles in the book, All in ONE Marriage Prep: 75 Experts Share Tips and Wisdom To Help You Get Ready Now.
This book covers marriage preparation from A-Z and from many different angles. The 75 experts who collaborated to write will educate, inspire, empower and amuse you. Says Melodie Tucker, Mars-Venus Success Coach, “This book is destined to become –THE- Marriage Preparation Manual.” You can pre-order your copy from this link: http://www.allinonemarriageprep.com.
OR you can order it from our website after July 15, 2010.
