Inspire young couples with real-life stories

It is said that love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop.

Given the pressures of today's fast-paced lifestyle, I am not surprised by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) study which found more young couples giving up on their marriage, as reported in "Recent marriages more prone to split" (The New Paper, April 7).

Money issues are often the reason. Material aspirations are important to most Singaporeans - the 5Cs of cash, credit card, car, condominium and country club membership. But what is just as important are the 3Ls - love, laughter and life.

While I support MSF's efforts to roll out more marriage preparation courses, I believe that nothing beats sharing a hands-on life experience.

Young married couples need to be inspired and motivated by dedicated and committed spouses who have stuck by their partners through thick and thin.

MSF and other agencies should invite such dedicated spouses to share their success stories and remind couples that if they put their hearts and souls into building a solid partnership, they will experience the joy and happiness a fulfilling marriage can bring.

This article was first published on April 13, 2015.
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