Can a marriage really survive if only one is trying?

1. 68

   mommyneal6posted 13 years ago

   Can a marriage really survive if only one is trying?

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2. 61

   Dee aka Nonnaposted 13 years ago

   If only one person is trying I'm not sure the marriage is surviving or the person trying is surviving.  It does take two to make a marriage.  The person trying may be doing so for very personal reasons....

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3. 61

   1morningposted 13 years ago

   Not a chance... sorry.  Marriage is always a duet.  While the two people may continue to live together - the marriage will be over.

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4. 61

   lovelife08posted 13 years ago

   It takes both partners to make a marriage work.  If only one is putting forth the effort, it is sure to fail.

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5. 61

   Coach Julieposted 13 years ago

   A marriage by definition involves at least two people.  If only one is invested in making it work it has little chance of surviving.

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6. 77

   CJ Andrewsposted 13 years ago

   If one is continuing to abandon the marriage, i.e. not trying, I wouldn't call it a working marriage - the union only has the title not the spirit.

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7. 61

   Marcy-Liptonposted 13 years ago

   no way, I'm sorry to sound a little trite here; but it takes two to tango.
   
   Marriage is a partnership that must be supported and reinforced by both spouses.
   
   There are no two of the ways around it

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8. 92

   Jackie Lynnleyposted 13 years ago

   I would say yes it can survive but with only one trying that means only one is happy. You have a giver and a taker and that happens in very many marriages especially when there have been so many years invested and there seems no point in trying to start over and when the one trying is the one in love.

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9. 59

   Ashantinaposted 13 years ago

   ...if only one is trying then you are both 'existing' within a marriage. Even though emotions are involved, sometimes you may need to make a realistic decision as to whether it is actually worth saving.

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10. 61

    nightwork4posted 13 years ago

    it might survive but at what cost. surviving just means it lasted but when it is a one way street, one person pays the price in misery and discontent.

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11. 59

    ChristineVianelloposted 13 years ago

    Unfortunaly no, both people have to try in the relationship. The marrige will fail if only one person is trying.

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12. 0

    jasper420posted 13 years ago

    no marriage is an equal partnership meaning both parties have to be willing to work with each other to resolve a problem wish i had something more postive to say but i dont this is how i feel about it

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13. 61

    Lsadler42posted 13 years ago

    Marriage is supposed to be teamwork. There is no I in team, so I say no.

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14. 60

    Claudin_Dayoposted 13 years ago

    If that one's effort could suffice everything for the survival of their marriage, but I doubt because he/she will get tired of it.
    For a lasting marriage the two of them must work it out together

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15. 60

    Barry Silverposted 13 years ago

    No, it's impossible for a marriage to survive if only one is trying. The legal status might remain, but a marriage is a relationship. One cannot relate if the other is disengaged.

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16. 34

    edhanposted 13 years ago

    Survival of marriage takes two. If one is attempting to do it, there might still be a chance. It is like the days of courtship as one will be doing the chasing of love.
    
    I believe that failure of marriage is normally due to routine in daily life. Unlike courtship, it is always full of life. So, in marriages we can also inject some excitement once a while like courtship's days.
    
    Take a break from your kids and enjoy moments that you had during courtship. Take life as interesting as it can be. Remember those good old days when you are in love. It can be that even though you are already married.

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17. 60

    N. Hedinposted 13 years ago

    Nope.  That is definitely a recipe for disaster.  Especially sad for whoever is trying.

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18. 0

    aurorastoneposted 13 years ago

    Nope...it's a two-way street. One person will eventually get tired of trying!

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19. 59

    sunchild28posted 13 years ago

    Two shall come together to become i, the marriage is not complete if the two have not come together.

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20. 57

    Jom-Boyposted 13 years ago

    No bicycle will move far with one wheel ...

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21. 58

    bjjpposted 13 years ago

    The one sided marriage is not a real marriage and it is only getting by, not surviving. There might be one of the partners who is suffering tremendously, either physically or by the mental abuse they are getting. This is the case in so many marriages and the end result is usually divorce at one time or another. I took a lot of mental abuse for 33 years until my kids were out of the house then I told my spouse "see ya!". No more, I had suffered enough. He didn't want to work but always wanted money to buy beer. There was no communication except for the weather and he always put people down. He wasn't happy unless he was ragging on someone. I was miserable for years but kept quiet for the kids sake.

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22. 60

    CaravanHolidaysposted 13 years ago

    Not really, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink

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23. 60

    Kaniel Loughranposted 13 years ago

    I highly doubt it could. Eventually the stronger person will realize the need for change and if the less involved partner doesn't step up, then the working partner will naturally and inherently look for more suitable partners that will provide what they are missing. You only live once, make sure you are happy with the person you marry and know you can be dependent on each other.

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24. 60

    mortgage-newsposted 13 years ago

    Definitely not.  Both to be on the same page or else there will just be lots of fighting.

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25. 59

    ALURposted 13 years ago

    I once read an essay by Gordon Livingston that states:
    "it only takes ONE person to end a relationship"
    
    If one is trying the marriage/courtship is dead.
    
    RULA

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