For the first time in 2015, the number of unmarried American adults outnumbered married couples, making America a singles nation. At least 1 in 7 Americans lives alone. That’s over 31 million compared with only 4 million in the 50’s.
Yes, I was lucky enough to meet my soul mate very young, have been blessed enough to share the last 25 years with him, and excited to spend many more together. But that seems to be a rare blessing nowadays.
Singles Nation: Why America Gave Up on Love
There are hundreds of blogs, magazine features, and stories shared by friends around the issues with dating after 30. I overheard someone say that if a man’s never been married by the age of 35, there’s something wrong with him. Is that fair, or is it that he simply doesn’t want to settle down?
Where are these Americans based that have given up on love? Are they based in metropolitan cities where serial dating is a cultural way of life? Should we blame the rise of dating apps like Tinder? Perhaps people don’t feel the need to settle down with that date from Tuesday night they quite liked because they can swipe right another few times this week and have a different dinner date every night of the week.
I absolutely love Miami – but we’ve all heard the rumors that this is a difficult city for dating and finding a significant other. However, Miami is a social landmark where people come to work hard, play hard and party harder. It’s not the culture or the mindset to look for anything serious. But that’s not to say you won’t find it. Sometimes love hits you, and Mr. or Mrs perfect comes crashing into your life when you’re least expecting it and doing everything you can to avoid it.
I can’t help but wonder whether it’s an energy and mindset thing. If you’ve been disappointed countless times, it will likely become your expectation that there will be something wrong with everyone you meet, and less than enthusiastic about repeating this unsuccessful dating cycle over and over again. Recurring disappointment will, of course, lead to low expectations, understandably.
But what if people looked at dating like their other life goals? Those inspirational stories we hear about a now A-list celebrity actress or model who got rejected by 100 agencies before the 101st gave her that big break, perhaps?
I’ve heard various dating disaster stories. I’ve seen friends and loved ones hurt over and over again. Some have given up on love. But those who always had that little glimmer of hope, despite having their hearts trampled over? Those are the ones who are now meeting the men of their dreams, kissing goodbye to their singles nation membership for good.
Some people believe there’s a soul mate out there for everyone. Others think there’s a twin flame out there too. Some suggest we will only truly love twice at most during our lifetimes. If that’s true, why are some people not truly happy until they marry for the 3rd or 4th time?
Women are now fiercer and more independent than ever, which is a beautiful thing. But don’t give up on love just yet, America – meeting someone incredible to share life’s journeys with is a beautiful thing too!
Further reading – check out which two types of men you should avoid here.
