Great Expectations
Sunday, September 25, 2011
- Carrie Bradshaw
If there's one thing New York never falls short on, it's choices. Hungry? One could conceivably live a lifetime here without eating at the same place twice, what with the sheer number of dining choices plus the constant opening, shuttering, popping up and redesigning of restaurants. Bored? There's no shortfall of concerts, parties, shows and festivals; the problem is not so much what to do but how to fit everything into 24 hours.
So you can imagine what it's like when it comes to dating.
Depending on what you're looking for, dating in New York can make you feel like a kid in a candy store or a parched wanderer in a desert coming across nothing but mirages. Even if you're not a total jackass, the seemingly infinite choices renders most people paralyzed and unable to make a firm decision. A recent article in the New Yorker put it quite well:
"When there is something better out there, you can’t help trying to find it. You fall prey to the tyranny of choice—the idea that people, when faced with too many options, find it harder to make a selection. If you are trying to choose a boyfriend out of a herd of thousands, you may choose none of them. Or you see someone until someone better comes along. The term for this is “trading up.” It can lead you to think that your opportunities are virtually infinite, and therefore to question what you have."
On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who are tired of the seeming futility of it all and who just want to get off the damn dating carousel. The same article explains this feeling as such:
"If you really are eager, to say nothing of desperate, for a long-term partner you may have to contend with something else—the tyranny of unwitting compromise ... The people who are looking may not be the people you are looking for ... Some people are too picky, and others aren’t picky enough. Some hitters swing at every first pitch, and others always strike out looking."
When you've spent some time in the dating loop, it becomes tricky not to fall prey to either of the two. I constantly encounter men and women who seem to be perpetually looking over their date's shoulder, just in case someone better walks in between the amuse-bouche and first course.
Almost as frequently, however, you see people talk themselves into relationships, resigned to the thought that anything is better than nothing. Once I began hovering around the 30-year-old mark, I found myself at greater risk of falling into this trap, in danger of getting pushed in at a moment of weakness by some thoughtless remark. I don't know why but people now seem to find it acceptable to say things to me like "Are you ever going to get married?" or "Don't you get scared that you'll never get married?" While I'm probably entitled to respond with "That's really none of your goddamn business", I usually end up explaining that if I wanted to get married just for the sake of getting married, I'm sure I could find some other desperate person out there willing to hold hands while we place our heads under the axe of that tyrant called compromise.
Lately, my conviction has grown stronger that it is worth it to hold out for something that defies both tyrannies. That something was once spelled out for me by Mike, my dear friend Che's amazing husband, in the simplest yet most crystal clear terms. As I launched into my latest dating saga in the hope that he could decode the most recent confounding guy's mysterious tactical maneuvers, he stopped me in mid-sentence.
"Drop him.""What? But you haven't even heard the whole story yet!"
"I don't need to. You deserve someone who's crazy about you. Plain and simple."
I stood there with mouth agape for a few seconds until the truth of what he said sank in. He's right. At the end of the day, that's what it's about. The only reason to be together is if you're both crazy about each other. If one of you is still looking over the other's shoulder, or if the only thing that binds you is the fear of missing the boat, that's simply not enough.
The greater the expectation, the greater the reward. I believe it.
8 comments
Just out of curiosity, do you really believe that? What if there was someone who was crazy about you, but it didn't work out. Would you still continue to have great expectations?
ReplyDeleteI was particularly intrigued by the 'missing the boat' analogy. If others out there are scared of missing the boat, surely that means less people these days continue searching for "The One"?
But, otherwise, once again, this is a really inspiring post. Provides much needed TLC :)
Thanks for such an insightful questions, Amy!
DeleteI guess it would depend on why things didn't work out. So far, in my life, there hasn't been a relationship that "didn't work out" (and there have been more than a few) that stopped me from having great expectations. Every relationship I've had seems to improve on the past one so despite the fact that I haven't found "The One", I still believe there's someone great for me out there.
As far as the "missing the boat" idea, it's my feeling (and seemingly verified by the New Yorker article) that there are some who would settle for "someone" rather than waiting for "The One." I guess, holding out for "The One" is a bit of a gamble ... what if that person doesn't ever come? Should you have settled for what was there rather than keep waiting?
This post stemmed from times in my life spent analyzing confusing dating episodes, in an effort to make my expectations fit the latest guy's maneuvers. And what I gleaned from my conversation with my friend was that I shouldn't have to do that, if this is the right for me. I can expect something great because men, when they find someone they truly want to be with, are actually capable of meeting those expectations.
Here's hoping he's right!
I am not sure how I landed up in your blog but I am glad I did! I read a few of your posts including your "about" and can totally relate.. Maybe cos I am on a similar boat.. ;-)) Super like your concept of "The happily ever after project".. I am surely coming back for more Celine!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely note, Divya! I am so glad to hear that the blog resonates with you; that's what every blogger wants to hear! It does us all good to find our own happiness -- with or without Prince Charming! Please do come back again!
DeleteI just went through a few of your posts and i'm def going to read more of them. Your idea of the happily ever after project is really inspiring!
ReplyDeleteWhat i want to say about that post: i just found "the one" last year when i almost gave up hope. so i guess, out there is exactly that person for everyone and i think it is worth waiting!
Thank you, Marcella! I am so happy to hear that you're enjoying what you've read so far -- and if you're even the tiniest bit inspired, then all the effort will have been worth it!
DeleteAnd thanks for sharing your encouraging story! Hopefully, I'll be as lucky someday!
I LOVE YOUR BLOG.
ReplyDeleteI just started one of my own: http://happilyunhappy25.blogspot.in/
Would love if you could check it out and give me feedback!
Continue writing :)
Thanks Brinda! Great start on blogging; always did admire people with a knack for poetry :-) I'm by no means an expert ... but I am a very visual person so might I suggest adding more pictures? Best of luck!
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