I've been married for eight years and I still think the 'ball and chain' jokes are lazy, but lately I've wondered if we've romanticized the idea of a soulmate too much. My wife and I didn't have a fairy-tale meeting; we grew into each other through shared chores and awkward silences, which is probably why I believe that love is more about daily commitment than destiny. But I also know couples who swear they felt an instant spark that never faded, so maybe I'm just cynical. Should we really tell young people to wait for 'the one' when so many happy marriages are built from practical choices?