Matt thought of himself as someone who kept his word. He meant what he said when he promised to "forsake all others 'til death parts us" to his wife, Anne, 18 years earlier. He certainly didn't want to follow in his father's footsteps, dumping her for another woman after 20 years of marriage.

Read more: What Makes You Vulnerable/Keeps You Safe

"Janna is a great mother and a good person. I just don't feel attracted to her—not like I do to Lisa," explains Steve. "In fact, I'm not sure I ever felt attracted to Janna the way I do to Lisa. When we reconnected at our class reunion, I think Lisa and I both knew we missed something important years ago. I'm coming to believe that Janna and I never should have married. I only wish Lisa and I had found each other sooner."

Read more: Is it Really Love?

When the news broke last Friday that General David Petraeus was resigning his post as head of the CIA, I am guessing any number of people wondered how he could allow an extramarital affair to threaten his position, reputation and family. Revelations of this nature regarding the questionable behavior of a public figure may cause us to consider how someone so influential, powerful and with so much to lose could possibly exercise such poor judgment. They should also prompt us to ponder our very human inclination to deceive ourselves.

Read more: How Could He Do It?: Understanding Infidelity

Our son was mesmerized by the phenomenal qualities of a specific basketball shoe when he was in junior high school. According to the manufacturer, players who wore this shoe would run faster, jump higher and shoot straighter. In fact, if you believed the marketing, it was unlikely someone could be successful without such a shoe. Surprisingly, even though our son spent most of his discretionary income on those shoes that year, the team was average at best. Maybe their lackluster performance was related to something more than footwear. Maybe if the other players on his team had worn the exceptional shoes that would have made a difference. Maybe a different or better coach would have meant our son spent less time on the bench. What about a new gymnasium?

Read more: Do Shoes Really Make the Player?

"How many nights a week does your family eat meals together?"

The bewildered silence I get from families in response to this question surprised me at first, but the more often it occurs, the more I realize the disappearing family meal time is reality, not a myth. The thought that parents and children will gather around the dinner table in the evening and share a common meal is so unusual in many homes that it occurs only on special holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Read more: When Was the Last Time You Ate Dinner as a Family?