The "Alpine Divorce" demonstrates the way in which too many of us have been conditioned to be selfish, inconsiderate, and uncaring of our partners and avoidant of providing any of their needs that don't match our own.

It's not just about simple miscommunications nor a mismatch in interests and physical abilities. Instead, leaving your partner behind on a hike demonstrates a major lack of concern of anyone outside oneself.

Leading some to think it's perfectly reasonable to prioritize finishing their little walk over staying with and caring for their partner in a time of need.

Every "alpine hike" might not be mortally dangerous, but that's not the only justification for needing care.

I suspect many relationships that ended after such hikes likely included previous moments of similarly demonstrated lack of care that were easier to ignore.

Loving someone is effortful and requires the selfless giving of oneself in time, energy and attention. Abandoning someone and leaving them alone on their own - even in familiar terrain, but especially when it's not - is the exact opposite of loving.

I'm glad everyone involved were able to see that their personal needs weren't being met and find ways to ask to have them met going forward.