Dear Reader,
Lip stains on envelopes, boomboxes above heads and passionately sprinting through the train station are all hallmarks of beloved romance movies. We can’t all have Ryan Gosling build us a white house with blue shutters and a room overlooking the river so we can paint. So, the question remains: Are these grandiose declarations of love purely fictitious? Do romanticism and ardor still exist in modern day dating?
Instead of finding my Prince Charming, I have too often found myself staring longingly at my phone or with annoyance at a chat asking, “What do you look like?” As romantic as that message may be, I cannot help but throw myself into the pages of an Austen novel or rewatch “When Harry Met Sally” for the 20th time, hoping and praying that kind of love might still exist. It seems almost counterintuitive that the advent of phones and easy communication apps would detract from romance, yet it rather often does. The crux of the problem is that these conversations are far too casual. It is perhaps too easy to contact your loved ones, talk to your crush or ask someone out on a date. I cannot remember the last time I wrote a letter for someone that wasn’t a thank-you note or a birthday card. Is the solution to this severe lack of romanticism, then, that we ought to put forth more emotional depth into our romantic relationships? That seems far too simple and almost misleading. In no way am I claiming that modern day relationships are entirely bereft of
passion. Under the belief that love is a function of nature, I am inclined to believe that, at some level, almost everyone strives for the approval of and happiness for another person in a non-platonic or non-familial manner.
Love exists. It always has and always will, but I find that its current expression lacks the passion it once possessed. Thus, the difference between dating 20 years ago and dating now is primarily due to a change in the level of connection. We find ourselves in a unique position when it comes to modern day dating. The entire landscape changed so drastically; the medium through which we communicate and the affectionate words we share with one another have entered a seemingly irrevocable state of nonchalance. Dating is meant to be a slow, meaningful process by which you get to further know and love another person. Now, we find that dating is often taken for granted and largely avoided, as seen through the use of “talking stages” and “situationships.” Consequently, many people find themselves alone or afflicted with anxious attachment instead of in healthy romantic relationships or peaceful states
of singlehood. Instead of wishing on a shooting star or downloading a random dating app, this author implores her readers to be bold, proactive and true.
There ought to be more romantic gestures.
There ought to be deeper connections and conversations.
There ought to be a romantic renaissance.