Human beings are social animals and in most cultures, it is considered normal to choose a life partner and settle down to raise a family. The decision is usually taken when both partners become of age and are mature enough to handle a family. However, just as people get married every day, so do others get divorced or separated, which begs different questions mostly stemming from the behavior and orientation of the two individuals involved. A major focus should be on knowing the intended person as much as possible so as to give room for tolerance in the union. The following are some things you must definitely look out for before choosing a life partner:
1. Compatibility: Needless to say that it is not possible for two adults to live under the same roof for long if they are not compatible. Since they might have lived a good part of their lives apart, it is necessary for them to be able to relate to each other at a considerable level to avoid frequent misunderstandings. Compatibility can be seen in aspects of religion, language, goals, culture and so on.
2. Health: It is very rare to see people getting married when one of the parties has serious health issues. Although the union is supposed to be for better or worse, it is very unwise to get married to someone with a terminal or transmittable illnesses. In cases where one of the partners has contractible diseases, a compromise must be reached. You surely do not want to get married to someone that was sick from the get-go.
3. Genotype: Gone are the days when people just married each other without proper research and then blamed the gods for whichever misfortunes arose. Nowadays, when choosing a life partner, you must be aware of their genotype before agreeing to a union. The risks associated with choosing a person with an incompatible genotype are numerous and can cause varying degrees of frustration and depression if care is not taken. A prime example is the case of sickle cell disease that is very common in Africa.