What is a marriage proposal at its essence? A marriage proposal is the first step toward one of the most life-changing events you may encounter - marriage. This is first step should not be taken lightly or without a great deal of thought. After you propose, you have expressed to that person that you look forward to the day that you can marry and join your lives as one for as long as you both shall live. With this much riding on the proposal, why do so many put so little thought into it'I believe that it is a lack of understanding of just how important that first step is. When you think about a journey, the first step is very critical. It is the one that your others will be guided and if it is pointed in the wrong direction, the rest of the journey could be astray. By setting a straight and very guided path with your proposal, you enable your journey to the wedding and marriage to be much more aligned in the ways that you would like. But, how do you do this?One of the best things that you can do to assure that this first step is along the path that you desire is to understand where you really want to go. Have you really thought about what marriage and a life together details? You and your mate will have a host of both good and bad times together. Are you willing to stick with this person when all things seem to be going wrong? When you think about marriage, do you see divorce as an option if it does not work? This mentality of having an “escape hatch" allows you to not fully approach the proposal or marriage as a true commitment. If you can truly envision yourself with this person through any of the hardships that life may bring, you are already aimed in the right direction.Now, if you are aimed in the right direction, do not take your first step backwards or to either side with a poorly executed proposal. Make sure that the proposal is thoughtful, intimately touches your mate, and is planned in such a way that it can be performed just the way you would like it. The time and effort that you exert to make this first step a success should have great influence on the steps that follow. You and your mate should be able to enjoy a life along the path that you have set the course that will allow you to overcome the odds of the 50% of U.S. couples that divorce annually. My estimation is that they didn’t set the right course and their first steps weren’t in the right direction. Shown by the 80%* of women that report being dissatisfied with their marriage proposals, I think I may be onto something.*Source: www.theroMANtic.com