Generation Next
This evening, I tuned into some of the mainstream television shows (ie. Grey’s Anatomy) and noticed a common theme: relationships don’t last. It seems that when someone starts to want different things than their partner, the solution is to call it quits. I find this is particularly true of women. What is it with women having to “just be”, “go find them selves” or “think about what they want” ? Women: you should have figured that stuff out before committing yourself to someone else! I won’t lie, I have found myself uttering those very words in past relationships. To be frank, when you leave to figure out whatever it is you need to figure out, remember, the person you left may not always be waiting for you when you return.
Why do couples drastically decide to split rather than working through the changes? You will not always want the exact same things in life but those differences can bring you closer if you chose to see them as opportunities to grow. I think that the independence of modern women offers more choices in life but those choices also add confusion and indecisiveness. I know of many couples that parted ways because the woman’s expectations were not met or there was “something missing”.
For those of you that watched Oprah today, you would have seen the attractive, successful and single 41 year old woman who could not commit herself to any man. They pointed out her “wish list” which included : handsome, funny/silly, smart, attractive, gets along with and is liked by all members of his family, never before married, no children, dresses well, does not drink through a straw…they ridiculed her high standards and stated that that “man” does not exist out there. They made her simplify her “wish list” to instead, emphasize her core values that she was seeking. This opened up more possibilities of meeting someone. When she went out on dates however, her old habits surfaced and she would reject men for minuscule things! They blatantly told her that she will always be alone if she does not become more open and realistic.
This generation of women is all about the next best thing. It is awful that we are never thin enough, attractive enough, rich enough, popular enough, successful enough…the problem is we want too much! Women- take heed and don’t make your life a reflection of your beloved characters on TV. While there is nothing wrong with being ambitious, don’t forget to be grateful for all of the good things you already have. Before you move on and decide to leave Mr. Now for Mr. Next, think about what you will be giving up and if it is worth it?
