Blog by Sean Gehon, Tuesday, March 27, 2007

They say that love lifts us up where we belong. I say, who the hell put you in charge? Personally, I would like to believe that there is more to this life than meets the eye. In a world where the “American Dream” has come to mean falling in love, having a family, and living happily ever after in your five million dollar home with your seven cars, I don’t think I want any part of it. Who made the rules that say to be happy you can’t be single, independent, and living in a downtown apartment? My only theory is that people who believe being single is a bad thing don’t have the confidence to enjoy their independence.

Often I’ve found myself concerned with the thoughts of women on this planet. Society has burned the image in their minds that being single makes you less of a human being. Sure, everyone loves a good fairy tale, but let’s face it… nobody really gets one. Recently in an interview, Hilary Duff said that she loved being single. Hilary Duff is nineteen years old and probably more impressionable than most women older than her, so you’d think she would dream of that fairy tale romance with Prince Charming. Luckily for her, she’s wise beyond her years.

Following Hilary’s breakup with Joel Madden, Joel quickly began dating Nicole Richie. Of course the tabloids began to print stories about Hilary’s heartache, and how much she hated Nicole. Having gone through a break up or two of my own, I can understand how upset Hilary must have been. I don’t think Hilary necessarily hated Nicole, but we’ve all said things in the heat of the moment that we wouldn’t necessarily think otherwise.

No matter how often celebrities complain about being celebrities, it’s certainly a unique situation. Perhaps it’s more difficult to enjoy being single while you’re a celebrity. The media constantly focuses on who you’re dating, leaving a night club with, or breaking up with. Should celebrities have to feel the ‘burden’ of being single more than the rest of us? Fame creates strange images for those who possess it. Body image, self worth, and pressure can get to you at any given time, and can be even worse when its playing out in public.

Personally, I don’t find anything wrong with being single. You have more time for yourself, your friends, your career.  Where’s the downside? We can all appreciate the comfort of being in a relationship, but that’s an interesting word. Why be ‘comfortable’ when you can be happy? I sometimes wonder if people are more concerned with being in a relationship and looking better in the eyes of society than they are about taking care of themselves. To see someone like Hilary Duff get up in front of the world and say I’m independent, and I’m okay with that, is truly impressive. Sure, the girl is nineteen years old, beautiful, talented, and wealthy, she’ll have no trouble landing a man in the future, but for now she’s okay.

I often wonder what goes through someone’s head when they’re trying to land a man. To what lengths are you willing to go to, to be able to say you have a boyfriend? At the end of the day, is it really worth it? Frankly, it isn’t.

I’ve started to think about the fact that fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. Those aren’t very good odds. Is this what the media has done to us? We’re so consumed with wanting a relationship, a marriage, and a family, that we’re willing to marry the first person to bat their eyelashes at us? Are we insane?!

Sex and the City has often given me great out look on life. Recently as I was perusing my DVD’s I watched the season five finale of the show. Carrie Bradshaw could be heard saying the words, “There are those who settle, those who settle down, and those who wait for the butterflies.” Maybe, I’m wrong, maybe I’m a dreamer, and maybe I’m simply a fool, but I for one… am waiting for the butterflies.

Sean ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe0W6QXtkyg    Just in case.)

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