Recently I was listening to stories of couples who had been married for a long time--I'm talking 50 years or more. The way they talked about each other was something you don't hear as often nowadays, and it's unfortunate.
Listening to these couples, I realized that society's outlook on love and relationships is nothing like it used to be.
I heard the ladies reminisce on old memories and dates with their husbands that are completely different than today's relationships.
One lady told me stories about her and her husband's dates to a drive-in movie theater where they spent a majority of their Friday nights. She also mentioned memories of them eating at a little restaurant with friends and him opening and closing doors for her.
While hearing these memories, I began to wonder why something as special as caring stopped. I began wondering why our generation does not show love and appreciation in that way anymore.
But then I knew.
Over the years, our generation has turned relationships, something special and genuine, into a thing: an object. We have taken meaningful dates and turned them into "Netflix and chill." We have transformed manners into something that no longer exists. But why?
Why would we stop wanting genuine relationships? Is it easier to be friends with benefits or intimate with someone with the guidelines of "no strings attached"?
After listening to these couples, I began questioning our generation's intentions because something such as "no strings attached" and "friends with benefits" is not something older generations participated in. And don't we all want to be the 80-year-old couple who has been married for 60 of them? I do.
But maybe I'm old-fashioned for wanting a real, genuine relationship. And maybe that's okay with me because spending a lifetime with someone who is constant and loving is far better than spending it with a handful of people who come in and out of your life.
Talking to these couples, I realized being old-fashioned, and wanting something substantial in a world of change is perfectly okay. It's actually very warming and uplifting to know people like that exist.
I don't know about the rest of today's generation, but someone who opens the car door for me, wants to spend time with me no matter what we do and someone who wants more than 'a good time,' is far more important than a fling, no matter how tempting.
Love is more than an object or something that should be tossed around. It is important and genuine, and no generation should take that away.
Love is still alive in today's generation, as well as people who open the car door, go on romantic dates and spend heart-felt time together.
Being old-fashioned is still alive ladies and gentleman, and I couldn't be prouder.
