Let's Change The Meaning Of The Word Divorce

At what point is a marriage over? When you stop being intimate? When you spend more time fighting than not? When you are served your divorce papers? Or how about when That Word is first uttered out of your spouse's mouth?

Let's first define exactly what the word divorce means. According to the ever-reliable Yahoo Answers, the word "divorce" is from the Latin word divortium, meaning "separation" or "to turn and go separate ways." Actually, the comedian, Robin Williams, put it best when he commented it comes from the "Latin word to rip out a man's genitals through his wallet."

As Words

Whatever definition you decide to use, why would you even want to continue to have an intimate relationship with someone who uses that word as a possible solution? If someone mentions the possibility that a divorce is an answer, it will always be lingering around like stale socks left in your gym locker. The word "divorce" seems so final, so resolute and so firm. Although derived from the word separation, it's so much more than a "separate way." In fact, the mere utterance of the word "divorce" implies an intention of following through. It isn't an empty threat because That Word cannot be recalled. There are many spouses who see divorce as a finality and are prepared not to be married, mentally and physically. But this leads to the possibility that a spouse is hoping that the mere mention of That Word will lead to positive changes in the marriage. There have even been instances where a spouse says they want a divorce, the other makes nary a peep. The asking spouse becomes hurt and even more resentful that the other didn't fight harder to save the marriage.

The word divorce conjures up thoughts of a marriage breaking apart. Why don't we change the meaning of That Word. From now on, the word "divorce" comes from the word "divarication" which means a divergence of opinion. And for the sake of simplicity, that's all a divorce is anyway.

Let's Change The Meaning Of The Word Divorce