Why are there so many happy couples out there? What is the secret to a lasting, fulfilling partnership with your beloved? If I could google up a sure-fire solution, please let me know the key words. Or better yet, can someone tell me how to understand men?

If life was as simple as asking a question, getting the answer and doing what you were told, would I be a much happier person? What is the meaning of being happy? Is it that contentment you feel after finishing a good book, or that satisfaction of eating your favourite flavour of ice-cream? Is it the sense of self-confidence to walk around stark naked with all your problem areas like love handles for the world to see, or the security in knowing that you love your other half and are being loved in return?

My self-esteem is in the pits now, obviously I'm not important enough cos' simply put, my other half just told me he doesn't care. Every time I ask for something, it's always the same answer: "I have no time".

He never has time for me, but he has time for work, for his colleagues, for after work entertainment and for his countless groups of friends. He's besieged by invitations to go out every night after work. And to him, he has been the one making the sacrifices in this marriage, cos' according to him, he has already cut down on going out, ALOT.

I asked him earlier, when you go out so many days a week, do you ever stop to think if your wife might be lonely, or has it ever crossed your mind to ask your wife to do something together?

His reply was: "Well, I think my wife would be making her own plans to go out with her own frens, and besides, she also has the dog to accompany her. Otherwise if she's lonely or bored, my sister can keep her company."

His answer left me cold, and suddenly, I felt that I had enough. I had wasted enough time and effort on a lost cause. The tears came, hard and fast, regardless of the fact that I was sitting at my office cubicle.

In times like these, doubt plagues my every step. Have I married the wrong person? Are we really meant for each other? Is there such a thing as "the one" for you? Am I being unreasonable in my demands? Why must life be so difficult with the one you love? I envy couples who seem to know each others' thoughts, who are happy and contented and who revel in taking their relationships to a higher level of understanding.

What is it like to love like a dog? Unconditionally. It's owner can be the biggest loser on earth, but to his pet dog, he is the world. He's the best! Dogs dun compare, dogs dun demand and a dog never asks itself if this is worth it. If I could be Ace for a day, would I know then the meaning of real happiness?

Or could I be a cyborg, then I can programme myself to be happy everday and not think about anything else?

Why can't the finer things in life be bought? If all of life's problems could be solved with a simple formula or microchip, wouldn't things be much easier? If I were devoid of emotion, would I be able to cope with life's issues better?

How did all those people in blind marriages cope in the olden days? Why could these people live in conjugal bliss till the day they died, in the arms of those they loved? Was it because life was much simpler then?