I know everyone has a theory about love, and why everyone is so taken up with themselves, and Kids These Days. I'd say "but here's a theory that rises above all the rest," but it is just basically regular.

For whatever reason, whether it be a culture of instant gratification or Disney movies and their princes or what have you, people have decided that if the relationship they are in right now is not headed toward marriage and happily-ever-after they're doing something wrong. Not even the person they are with, but the particular time and place and setting have to be that exactly-right headed-toward-a-diamond moment. If the person you're passionately in love with is dating someone else, it is assumed that they are going to get married (posthaste) and you will be left alone. If you have not yet found The One, it is not because you're too focused on that, it's because something is wrong with them. And so on.

I have not met anyone that, post-1935, met and married and lived happily ever after. I'm just unsure why we as a society are stuck in such a relationship rut. Here is the archetypal relationship:
1. Meet, preferably at something you can mention charmingly at your wedding reception.
2. Fall instantly in love.
3. Know that you both want to get married -- immediately. The clock's ticking!
4. Wait for the appropriate time while both parties, most typically the man, settle their concerns about married life. While waiting, worry about whether you should be waiting. Consult magazines. Talk to your friends about it at bars.
5. Get engaged. Preferably in a mind-blowingly original fashion. Preferably with diamonds.
6. Begin the year-long getting-married process. Ladies, think about dresses and engagement pictures and seating arrangements and nothing else. Men, work so that you can provide for the lucky lady, Women, What Can You Do
7. Get married. It is the best day the universe has ever had, and nothing goes wrong.
8. Enjoy a wildly expensive honeymoon.
[9. Stay fairly happy the first year, divorce within 3-6 years]

Can we please get to the point where it is okay if you're friends with someone for ever and ever and then you fall in love? Or you're on-again off-again forever? Or you never get married, and instead you have dogs, and it's not pathetic, you're doing exactly what you want to? Or you get married for the first time when you're 60? Even Harry and Sally took twelve years!

It just frustrates me so much to see people upset because their relationships aren't going as perfectly or as quickly as they'd like for them to be. Nothing's going to become perfect when you get married, or when you have children, or when you retire. Life is kind of hard. Being around people you care about is the nicest part -- when you're not spending that time worrying about when they'll propose to you.

In summary (and this is what I always say), please relax.