Where Have All The Old-Fashioned Values Gone?

I was having a conversation the other day about relationships. My friend said something along the lines of how we can never have a relationship like our parents had because women today are becoming too equal to men, in a way.

Now, in all context, he comes from a different culture, so I understand that he means that he wants a relationship like his parents but feels like it's almost impossible to try and find that here in the City.

I don't think he's too far off from that. But that's here in the City.

To make matters worse, I found out that my aunt has been divorced from my uncle for the last 3 months. As far as I know, they had been together for something like 30-40 years.

How can you divorce someone after that long?!? I ask again: How?

Are we giving up too soon? Are we becoming so absorbed in the wrong ideals that we would rather divorce someone than fight to keep the relationship going?

Now, you're talking to a guy who still wonders about the girl he first kissed 12 years ago. And every girl after that.

I still believe in love, but I'm scared for my future. I see and hear firsthand so many people cheating on one another. I see so many heart-broken guys, thinking about relationship therapy after 6 months with their girlfriends. There are people so scared of committing that they propose moving in too soon and end up driving the other person away after a few months.

What kind of a world do I live in? What happened to "Boy meets girl, boy asks girl out, girl says yes, and the rest is history?"

On the flip side, I see a few happy people. I have some married friends who are still together, and so much in love. But there are so many people who aren't.

So I ask again: Where have all the old-fashioned values gone? Why are women so wrapped up in becoming career-driven and independent, that they won't let a guy walk them home, especially when I was just being nice (like what happened to me a few weeks ago)? Why can't a guy see past his own foolishness to dump a girl who hasn't seen him in a month (like what's going on with a friend of mine at work)? Why can't people just get over themselves and admit they love each other and get it over with (like two friends of mine)?

I'm too intimidated to ask women out. Maybe it's my own fucked up deal, but it's not the rejection I fear sometimes, it's a girl who might ridicule me in front of a bunch of strangers... Now that I think about it, that's pretty ridiculous. Anyway, I'm on the subway, and all I see are blank faces. No one's checking me out. Why is that? I'm not a bad looking guy. I dress all right, I shave in the morning, I put on a little cologne. What's wrong with me?


Or is it them?