A guest post written by Sheryl Paul for Simple Marriage

We live in a culture of illusions.

From the time we’re old enough to absorb images, we’re fed the fantasy that love and marriage should occur effortlessly and easily, that when we meet “The One” we’ll just “know”, and that this One will be nothing short of a perfect prince or princess.

So what happens when your beloved finally proposes, and hours or days within saying “yes” you’re filled with dread, anxiety, and an unnamable grief and fear?

Surely this means you’ve made a terrible mistake, right?

Because if you really loved him (or her), you would feel unilaterally joyous … at least that’s what our culture tells you.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Sure, there are plenty of people... More...