Life

Why Some People Aren't With Their "True Love"

by Nathalie O'Neill

If you're in a long-term relationship, you might want to check in with your partner — odds are, you may not be his or her true love. Yikes. According to a poll by Siemens Festival Nights, a three-day opera event, one in seven people say they are in a LTR with someone who isn't the "love of their life." Settling much?

The research, which surveyed 2,000 people, also found that of these one in seven, 73 percent were settling because they had missed the chance to be with their "true love." And if that true love were to appear? 46 percent would leave their spouse or partner to be with them. Double yikes — this just goes to show that nothing is ever set in stone, marriage contract or not.

Siemens Festival Nights doesn't specify the terms used to define a LTR, but either way, it's pretty unsettling how many people prefer to be with Mr. Wrong rather than to stick it out alone. "What is alarming is that so many people claim to be in long term relationships or even married to someone who isn't the true love of their life," said Claire Jarvis, Director of Communications for Siemens.

The whole "love of your life" concept is a bit vague, but there's no arguing with the sad realization that there's someone out there you love more than your current partner. Mostly, it seems people in LTR are a confused bunch — one quarter of all adults report having been in love with two people at once.

If you're single, this means there's no need to rush into things. Keeping in mind that the average person only falls in love twice in a lifetime, we could all benefit from some careful self-assessment and relationship reality checks." More than half of those polled thought they have been in love on occasions but looking back don't believe it was the 'real thing'," said Jarvis.

Kind of puts your time as a single gal in perspective, doesn't it?

Image: Petro/Fotolia