Despite the rising tide of partisanship and social discord, marriage is becoming a little less prevalent and a little more stable — a potential bright spot in a turbulent world, writes author and legal analyst Lisa Green for NBC News THINK.

Happily, the long-accepted narrative that about half of U.S. marriages end in divorce no longer holds, writes Green. Defying outdated stereotypes, many people in their 20s and 30s are waiting longer to marry and are more selective with their partners. Meanwhile more older adults are deciding an "until death do us part" union with someone they no longer love seems unnecessary.