Single Vs. Marriage

When I hear my elders say "it was different in my time or "when I was coming up things was not the same"; it always forms thoughts for me. When looking at the changes in culture it is easy to see how over time things have changed. Years ago Playboy magazine amongst others was protested and widely unaccepted by society, political leaders, and the government. When looking at today's culture, sex is a far cry from the risqué black and white photos of Hugh Hefner's early issues of Playboy magazine. Hardcore pornography is only a click away, advertisements showing the so called glamorous side of any product that needs to be sold, and websites that made for adultery and one night stands. Where did the phrase "she's the one for me" majestically disappear too? If I guessed I would say it vanished along with the sanctity of marriage. But maybe the single life is the way to go with divorce rates being at a all time high, the number of single parent rising, and the popularity of promiscuity why not play the field. The thrill of having new and promising sexual endeavors, never having to worry about monogamy, and most of all sex, sex, and more sex. Planning to be where the hottest women in the city will be, no commitments, no broken hearts only promises of ecstasy. Choices we all make them differently, and now we will weigh the option of being married and single. I once asked a friend of mine why he was still single and he told me "I have not met the one and I am trying to meet as many as possible before I do". I immediately laughed at him, but understood the sincerity in which he meant it. The single life has many perks as well as downfalls, but at its best it is a grand life to experience. The great thing about being single is its lack of commitment, no strings attached. But you always run the risk of someone unintentionally getting attached, but you are single and can cut the string and move on. Casual sex is always a fun thing, and the main reason that people chose remain single. From a religious point of view it is frowned upon to have premarital sex, but a large part of the single life. On the downside of all of this is the loneliness, that irritable feeling of not knowing if anyone in your life cares at all about you, not having someone that loves you because you are you. Loneliness is a dreadful thing to experience but a part of being single. Marriage is sacred joining of unions that seems to have gone the way of the 8 track player, forgotten and looked at as a limitation of living life. Some see it as a sentencing, as if you robbed the local liquor store and spending you life with one woman is the punishment. Some see it as finding an everlasting love and the sharing of two people's commitment, love, and trust. The benefits of marriage are not seen at first glance, but they are there. Having someone that chose to devote their life to you is quite an honor in its self. Marriage is said