possum_personCasual Contributor
IS ROMANCE DEAD?
I've been in three serious relationships now and I'd say I'm very affectionate and tastefully romantic. I think of special gifts for special dates and random moments, I think of them a lot and fantasize about our future and I like to plan things to do together. I notice that none of these people have seemed to be on the same page. It feels like they consider me a friend with benefits. They'll reciprocate my actions of affection, appreciate the gifts and participate in what I organise but I feel so alone in my love. I've felt so alone in all my relationships and a times a fool, being the one putting my heart out there. There's only just enough love given and hardly any passion. I've talked about this with my partners and they seem to just say they "dont think about that sort of thing" "it doesnt cross their minds" "they arnt romantic". What's strange is my partner proposed as Ive been talking about marriage and I was so shocked and confused because I didnt realise he was that kind of person. I was excited and love him and said yes. When I asked him why he proposed he talked about it in the most practical way "This aligns with my desired values for commitment and boldness". I've tried a few relationships before and noticing a trend in the zeitgeist. I've decided romance is rare now and am settling. I notice a lot of my friends are in a similar boat and looking to the general culture and the types of content in films and music I'm noticing a pattern, an absence of romance and an increase in complexity. I consider this is a natural course of the day but it makes me wonder. Is romance dead? Looking into the future as a 26 y/o I see complexity. Housing, job security, relationship maintenance as everyone moves around the globe; its all looking blurry. When I was a child, our parents had more predicable trajectories and the dreams of their youth could be fulfilled, did that mean there was spaciousness for romance? I'm just trying to figure it out. I want children but I have been fearful to have them with any of my partners for fear of feeling alone and passion-less between us. But this all makes me wonder; what is love?