Divorce is shameful, and if you get one, you've failed

No way! At the turn of the 20th century, only four percent of people got divorced. Now your odds are 50/50. Of course, we'd all like to have blissful marriages that last forever and ever, but the reality is, life is hard and people can change. And when couples have serious problems that aren't solved by counseling, many experts maintain that it's better to live happily apart than miserably together. The fact that divorce is now a valid option is actually a good thing, according to Becky Whetstone, a marriage and family therapist in Little Rock, AR. "When you know that despite everyone's best intentions, your partnership isn't a 100-percent given, it might motivate you to work harder and strive toward win-win solutions," she says.