Romance in Dating: Does Romance Exist?
A few months ago I had a notion for a few days that maybe, just maybe
romance had gone and vanished for good. Maybe I was having an off day, who knows. But it gave me the notion to think about
the subject of romance and put pen to paper (well keyboard actually).
Is love and romance dead do you think? I don't think so at all. After
pondering the question I came to the decision that romance must be alive and well and living in all of us, it may just be
hiding. Well most of us anyway. It is a question that women may be accused of asking more than men. But I know a lot of men
who would ask the same question. Listen to me when I say – romance is not dead; even if it can appear to be dead some
days. The question is, why do we think its has gone?
The answer of course does depend on what you mean by romance. Romance
is many different things to many different people. It can mean kissing in the rain, it can mean holding a door open, showing
respect, buying flowers, moving a seat, supporting an arm, making a Valentine’s card, creating surprises for your loved
one, even helping them when they are in need, but it generally relates directly to affection and togetherness. Romance is
the art of demonstrating your feelings in an outward fashion and making someone feel special. You won’t be romantic
to someone you don’t want romance with, so it is a coming together of two like minded people that allows romance to
flourish.
Why do we think that love and romance have gone? This is most obviously
demonstrated in a passionless world where sex has become main stream. Sex of course is not romance. Sex is exactly that, sex.
It may be part of romance, it may be integral to love and a relationship, but romance is something altogether different. Romance
appears to have vanished in our lives because people are so busy, so directional, so needy for the things that assist them
in functioning. In other words, our lives are quite selfish really. We may not like to admit it, but we do first, what helps
ourselves, and then secondly we help others. With romance, your own needs are subjugated by your own free will to allow for
the benefit of your chosen partner.
Men are often accused of not being romantic, and being too practical
instead. That may be true yes, but it is not fair on men to say that all the time. The practicality of men often belies their
romantic nature. By fixing something up, be repairing , mending, doing, helping, that’s often a man showing consideration
, effort, attention, affection and yes, ladies, romance! The problem is, the lady doesn’t always see it that way. Covered
all day in oil in the yard is not romantic, except perhaps in a movie or two. Arguing with a waiter or in a shop is not assisting,
it is being belligerent and rude and therefore not romantic in the least. However do try and understand that a man thinks
that if he is assisting or helping, he is being considerate.
When considering love and romance, romance is about effort, about
winning favor, about deserving love, about respect. One only needs to read Chaucer’s The Knight’s Tale to read
a full description on the concept of romance. What I am arguing is that if you want to be romantic, you need to understand
what it is to be romantic. Does it mean you need to watch French cinema, read romantic novels, listen to romantic music. Maybe
yes it does! Our world can be a soulless world, and more often that not romance is missing from our daily lives. But it needn’t
be so. I argue that if you are willing and able to relearn romance for yourself, then you can begin to practise it. Romance
is not a definite art from. Just because the person you're with buys you a rose, doesn’t make them any more romantic.
But maybe it is a romantic gesture if it is spontaneous.
The largest arrangement of red roses, the most expensive seat at the
opera, the most luxurious car in the lot are not romantic, especially when they are regularly provided. Romance is about small
thoughts and expression, about giving and feeling, about caring for someone and wanting to show someone how special they are.
It’s about the details, about the small things in life that you put a lot of attention into especially to make someone
else’s life better on one way or another. Now that is romance.
Valentine’s day is a commercial day we know but I often think
it is sad on 14th February each year when I see so many people pacing along after work clutching expensive roses and cards.
It is nice to show you love someone, but if this is the only day in a year you do so then where did the romance go? Every
day is a day to buy and send flowers, every day is a day to make someone a hand made card, a scribbled note, asingle flower
from the garden, a note on the pillow, a surprise breakfast, a surprise outing, even just a phone call when it's needed.
That, my friend, is romance.
