As modern and worldly as most of us are, we collectively still cling like barnacles to our fairy tale aspirations, as well as to our covert assumption that if a romantic relationship ends for any reason other than one or both people die, that that relationship is a failure. Yet the myth of happily ever after was actually created when the life span was less than 40 years of age. And as much as we all love riding off into sunsets, it may be time to revisit the standards to which we hold ourselves and others accountable when it comes to dating, mating and marriage.