Gina And Pat Neely

Those of us who have been single and alone all of our lives are always encouraged by happy couples blessed with long marriages. We may hear rumors about trouble in paradise from time to time, but super-couples (both celebrity and regular folk alike) work it out. They've learned over the years to forgive one another, come to an agreement and move on. The longevity of their unions gives us single people seeking our soul mates a sense of comfort and hope that one day, we too may find true love as well.

Denzel and Pauletta Washington

Will & Jada Pinkett Smith

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos

Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman

David Bowie and Iman

 (To view the article, please visit: 15 Long-Lasting Celebrity Marriages)

I find it unsettling and a bit heartbreaking when a great relationship ends. Another scale chipped away from the armor of innocence, love and fairy tales. We all know marriage is anything but a fairytale, but it's nice living in the single folk land of make believe, looking over the fence and admiring Cinderella's and Prince Charming's castle.

For years, I've enjoyed my lovey-dovey Neelys on the Food Network, cooking up fun and good lovin' for all of us to enjoy. Sure, sometimes they put too much sugar in the love pie, but it was still nice to see.

Gina and Pat Neely

Looking in the window from the outside, I wonder what was so bad about their relationship they couldn't work out? If one is in an abusive, toxic, unhappy situation, of course, they should leave. No one should live in misery everyday. You should NEVER allow anyone to ABUSE your body, spirit or soul. However, you're heart will take a hit from time to time. It's just the way it goes if you continue your journey in the land of the living.

Well, let me shut up. It's not my place to conjecture on why they hated each other, as TMZ reports. But if it was hate, I have this to say about my own experience: what I hated in others were the same characteristics I disliked about myself. When I looked at the person I despised, I found myself peering into mirror. My own soul stared back at me, less than perfect. It's easier to hate them than to change me.

So, here's my two cents and then I'm going to leave it alone (Sorry, this looks more like five cents):

A. There's nothing out here but solitude and reflection. Reconsider.

B. Forgive one another.

C. Forgive yourselves.

D. Love and accept one another for whom each of you are.

E. Love yourself.

I've never been married. I've never had a boyfriend (hence the birth of my fantastic imagination and storytelling superpowers). Yet, I've had to learn these lessons over the course of the last year with other people in my life. I'm better now. I let go of the hurt and pain, for only I suffered. Everyone else had moved on with their lives.  In any case, after walking through the fire, I can live and work with the people around me again. But I must give the praise - God saved me.

Maybe divorce is the only way Gina and Pat can find the peace and happiness we all seek in life. I don't know; hell, I can't figure out my own issues. I'm not there with them behind closed doors. I can only wonder. Perhaps once they complete their journey apart, they both will discover they already possessed the true love they desired, each other.

Maybe not.

Gina And Pat Neely To Divorce After 20 Years Of Marriage