Alone, Not Lonely: Does Marriage Go Hand-in-Hand with Misery?

After watching "Miami Rhapsody" starring Sarah Jessica Parker, I started to analyzing the concept of the essence of starting a relationship and getting married; Is it all really worth the trouble?

The movie entailed the star of the movie (Parker) going through the anxiety of analyzing her decision to get married, after realizing the troubles and heartaches associated with marriages, infidelity and dishonesty in the relationships of her family. And to be honest, it really touched a spot in my heart, along with the fears I have within myself concerning love, relationships and marriage.

More times than average, people are getting involved and starting relationships and marriages with no sense of truly being committed, and I asked myself: Does all relationships/marriages have to suffer such as this? Is it truly possible to have a 'drama-free' relationship, or a committed/monogamous marriage? The statistics tell it all. And more than 80% of relationships/marriages fail due to infidelity, deceit, or misunderstanding.

During the movie, Parker's family gave her more than enough reasons to believe that nothing lasts forever; Couples are going to cheat, lie and still claim to love each other. So, my question is this: Why even go through with the relationship, if things are not going to be perfect? But is there any such thing as 'perfect' in a relationship/marriage? Can couples actually find happiness through dishonesty?

Take for instance, a wife keeps her marital vows by knowing that her husband is cheating on her with his secretary, but still stays faithful; a husband wants to give his wife the world, but she never supports him...But are these grounds for having extra-marital affairs? The traditional values would say yes, but today, things are different, and nine out of ten families are seriously scarred by these traditions. Everyone involved will soon be hurt by these actions, and I believe that it's safe to say that there may be a chance for happiness if, and if people all work together to keep the happiness alive by not dallying with disaster.

After all, the movie had a happy ending with her parents finding the love they once had, overcoming their struggles of infidelity; her sister left the husband who made her unhappy, and her brother and his wife found their forgiveness with a new baby; But it still left Parker feeling like there just may be a chance that she would never find her 'perfect' mate. Simply because she was a person who truly wanted a 'perfect' relationship: One without 'surprises' around the corner. And I started to wondering, if I am the same way; Fearing the chance to be happy because I wanted/needed perfect happiness.

But after witnessing this society going through failed relationships, dishonest marriages and a life full of deceit/betrayal, I tend to ask myself: Are relationships really worth the trouble?