HAPPILY EVER AFTER?

Is there one 'right person' out there for us all to live happily ever after with? The team of LIVING does some'soul (mate) searching'!

Fairytales will be the death of us. That much is certain, in this uncertain world. So, watch where you go, because you could be knocked down by someone who is happily hopping along with his (or her) head in the clouds; fantasising about that 'perfect partner'.

Well, as it turns out, not everyone subscribes to the 'there's one right person out there' notion;

Here's what the men at LIVING have to say about our latest team poser - whether you believe that there is one 'right person' that you could live with, or whether there can be many potential partners for you out there - so that you can live happily ever after;

Our financial wizard takes things very seriously, of course: "There is no second chance, unless one partner is dead or insane," he insists. Whilst accepting that there could be many potential partners that one can live with happily ever after, he says that once you choose your better half, you must make it work.

Our chief who edits says that in an ideal world (which he says he has now left!), there's one 'right person' - or perhaps, one 'profile' that fits. "But in the real world, there could be many; because not everyone has everything one desires," he adds. Hmmm; let's not wonder about what the chief desires, then - our nerves are wracked enough already!

The gent who oversees graphics takes a pragmatic view. "There can be many partners to live with happily; because at a certain time in life, that one 'right person' can be the worst person in your life. The answer is simple; there is no 'one right person' in the world you can live with happily ever after," he says.

Our IT wiz makes sense; for once, some may say! "There can be more than one potential partner, as people fall in love at different times and ages in life, for many reasons," he rationalises.

There probably is one 'right person', but very few of us actually end up meeting that person, our walking dictionary points out. "That said, I would have to agree that there are many potential partners one could spend one's life with. I don't know about 'happily ever after' - after all, this is not the Disney channel," he quips.

As for mind-boggling revelations, our enfant terrible does the honours by pointing out that "things change with time". He adds: "For some people it works; for some it doesn't; why do you think the word 'divorce' was thought up? People's perceptions change for better or worse over time, and there's nothing you can do to stop this."

"If things keep going sour in all your relationships, keep trudging along. Some like to wait for the right person, while others like the trail-and-error method. It works either way," he feels; and don't we know it!

"Having many whom you think you could be happy with for your rest of your life is a scary thought," says the team's Casanova. He believes, would you believe it, that there's definitely one right person out there!

And we're beginning to worry about the gents who heads marketing. "To me, it's more about affordability, as partnerships are very costly!" he tells us. And so, our brains - or what's left of them - go into overdrive!

But what he says next is even more worrisome: "It's very similar to a restaurant experience, where you spend time going through the menu but then appreciate what the next table has ordered." Now that's an eye-opener!

We move on to the ladies, wondering whether they still believe in fairytales;

Our in-house chick - living, as she does, in her little egg world – believes that we're all created in heaven as eggs; and then separated. So, she says, the one we search for all our lives is the other half of our egg! An unusual theory, this. Wonder where she got it from! And we begin to worry about her, too;

"I might have run into a few wrong ones in the past, but I do believe that 'my one' is out there - although he would say that this was all sentimental crap!" she adds. Aw, poor baby!

LIVING's female journo doesn't subscribe to the 'one right person out there for you' theory. "You fall in love with different people for so many different reasons. You change, your needs change and so does what you look for in a partner. Each person will do something in a different way that captivates you more - that's the way love goes," she says.

What a team, eh?

But our communications expert does believe that there's one 'right person' out there, but wonders whether one would ever find that person. "In the process of looking for the 'right person', you meet many potential partners you believe are right for you at the time and think you can live with them happily ever after. You love them all differently for different reasons," she adds.

The voice of reason echoes her sentiments; when the time is right, that person will come along, she insists or perhaps, hopes!

"Simply finding the right person doesn't make everything perfect. You have to work at the relationship, to keep the right balace. Most importantly, we shouldn't take relationships for granted," she advises.

"Yes, there should be one right partner and it depends on life experiences; plus situations and feelings. Patience and understanding will lead you to the right person," adds the lady at the forefront of communications at LIVING.

Our PR lady who assists believes that happiness is a choice and that compromise is key. "It's up to each individual to decide if working towards 'happiness' is worthwhile or not," she asserts.

A lady marketer has no two words about it: "One!" she declares. "One is complicated enough!"

And our leading PR lady agrees: "Yes, there definitely is a 'right person,' out there."

But she adds, "Finding that person would be difficult; so, the journey to find your soul-mate continues and you meet many potential partners whom you love or think you do - and then you wake up one day and reality hits you, so you move on. And this continues!"

The senior lady who assists the Ed begs to differ: "There can be more than one; it all depends on where your life is headed!" she says. "While some people do find soul-mates, you can also be happy and content with a partner who may not be one. A lot depends on how much you're willing to compromise. 'Happily ever after' doesn't have to be the stuff of Hollywood - what matters is that you're loved for the person that you really are - not what others perceive you to be," she explains.

And our soon-to-be-married leading lady of marketing says that she "believes there is one 'right person' for everyone out there". Asserting that it takes two to tango, she says that both partners have to work at making a marriage last. "People should take time out to think things through and not jump into anything too soon or for the wrong reasons," she cautions.

And on that note, off we go; it's time to tango!

Compiled by Marianne David

and Natalie Kelaart
