It dazzles you with its new car smell, its shine, its sleek styling, the pristine interior, the smooth purr of its engine. You baby it, parking away from other cars at the supermarket so it won't be chipped by an errant door. Auto insurance rates would plummet if we all drove as carefully as we do when piloting a new car. To keep it running its best, you put gas in it, have its oil changed, rotate the tires, get regular tune-ups. And you do all these things willingly because you want it to last.
Marriages are the same in many ways.
When new, you delight in the excitement, the newness, the discovery. But, like a car, a marriage needs consistent upkeep to stay running at peak performance. Unfortunately, some people are more attentive to the maintenance of their cars than the maintenance of their marriages. And, far too many people decide to trade in the old model marriage for a new one when it starts running rough. Cars come with a maintenance schedule.