After recently reading an article about the world's longest living married couple, it was curious to me why relationships like this don’t get more media attention. Instead, the Kim Kardashians and Britney Spears’ of the world are the ones whose marriages and love lives infiltrate our daily media feeds. 

This couple, Herbert and Zelmrya Fisher, sat for an interview and gave advice to young lovers and insight into what has kept their relationship strong for an incredible 85 years.

Even just reading the words on a page I could feel the love and admiration the two of them had for each other. (They sounded like newlyweds!)

How do they maintain such adoration for each other after such a long time?

“Respect, support & communicate with each other,” Mrs. Fisher said, “Be faithful, honest & true. Love each other with all of your heart.”

They also claim their long friendship prior to marriage (although they were married young) created a foundation for a successful life together. 

Clarence and Mayme Vail, a Minnesota couple, were 8th grade sweethearts and married at age 16 in 1925. The couple brought faith to relationships everywhere when they were interviewed by NBC in 2008 on their 83rd wedding anniversary.

So why is it that inspirational couples like this are seemingly becoming fewer and fewer and the news is seemingly becoming more filled with 72 hour marriages and multiple divorces? Well, with a divorce rate nearing 50% in the US, it seems marriage is becoming undervalued, with a “well, I can just get divorced” kind of attitude, leaving many people disillusioned and heartbroken.

For so many people, between the media, and disheartening statistics, the fairy tale of finding your soul mate, getting married and growing old together is becoming nothing more than a fairy tale. 

But fear not, there is still hope, as witnessed by the Fisher and Vail couples. Their love has endured nearly a century, and gives hope to young couples looking for their ideal mate. So be patient, maybe you won’t end up in the Guinness Book of World Records, but you may not end up as a statistic, either. 

Reach reporter Samantha here.