Fantasies of love and passion fill my mind as I open up an old romance novel. For as long as I can remember, I have always pictured myself falling in love, getting married, having a family, and the whole nine yards. I guess I didn’t exactly expect the process of falling for the wrong guys. Or maybe I’m in the wrong looking for romance in a culture that rejects the idea. Being a hopeless romantic in 2017 is truly a struggle and these are some of the reasons why.

1. Social Media and Technology

I’m not one to bash social media; there are so many advantages to it. But it has undoubtedly taken a toll on socialization and human interaction. We have become too accustomed to seeing and talking to each other online that it almost seems unnecessary to interact in person. Instead of nervously walking up to your crush during study hall and proposing you go on a date, the new romantic idea of asking someone out on a date is DMing that said person on social media. It's basically “Netflix and Chill?”, with a series of sexually intended emojis.

2. The Hook-Up Culture

Maybe I have bad luck. Maybe this is what big girl dating is like, but I cannot seem to find a guy who is interested in anything more than a hook-up. That’s what our culture has turned into. Nobody wants to start a relationship in their late teens and early twenties because this is the time to have fun before you’re tied down. I do understand the point of view, though the hopeless romantic in me will always be looking for something more than that.

3. The “Talking” Stage

This is a relatively new concept most millennials are familiar with. “Are you dating?” “Are you hooking up?” “We’re talking.” It has formed a whole new role in the relationship process. You’re not quite dating yet, but you’re also more than just friends. You both like each other and getting to know each other without having any type of commitment. You text each other 24/7 and are always hanging out, but you still do not want a label. This is a tricky situation as you might not know where it’s going, but in the meantime it’s fun just talking to someone.

4. The Loss of Hope Leading to Loneliness

After so many people letting down your expectations of love and relationships, you get to a point when you decide it’s best to give up entirely. You can use this as a time for self-exploration and focusing on your career and goals. It can be very beneficial, although a hopeless romantic like myself will always have that bit of loneliness when there is no sign of love at all.

5. Waiting for “The One”

It’s in our minds that there’s the one person for us out there and we are just waiting for life to bring us together. When will that be? Can it be tomorrow? How do we know who’s the one? It’s something that takes up a little too much space in our mind. But it will all be worth it that day you finally do meet “the one". All in good time.