“It’s 1965 and you’re a 26-year-old white guy. You have a factory job, or maybe you work for an insurance broker. Either way, you’re married, probably have been for a few years now; you met your wife in high school, where she was in your sister’s class. You’ve already got one kid, with another on the way. For now, you’re renting an apartment in your parents’ two-family house, but you’re saving up for a three-bedroom ranch house in the next town. Yup, you’re an adult!
Now meet the twenty-first-century you, also 26. You’ve finished college and work in a cubicle in a large Chicago financial-services firm. You live in an apartment with a few single guy friends. In your spare time, you play basketball with your buddies, download the latest indie songs from iTunes, have some fun with the Xbox 360, take a leisurely shower, massage some product into your hair and face—and then it’s off to bars and parties, where you meet, and often bed, girls of widely varied hues and sizes. They come from everywhere: California, Tokyo, Alaska, Australia. Wife? Kids? House? Are you kidding?
Not so long ago, the average mid-twentysomething had achieved most of adulthood’s milestones—high school degree, financial independence, marriage, and children. These days, he lingers—happily—in a new hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance.
But while we grapple with the name, it’s time to state what is now obvious to legions of frustrated young women: the limbo doesn’t bring out the best in young men.” by Kay S. Hymowitz
Guys need challenges. Guys need responsibility. It’s not a coincidence that a verse in the Bible says it’s not good for a man to be alone. I know there are some guys who are in their earl 30′s who really want to be married but it just hasn’t happened yet, but there are way more who are just avoiding it. They are just happy to continue living like they did in college but with more money. The thing is, what appears to be a good way to live is really not helping them. If you asked any guy if living like this is appealing and if he answered honestly, every one would say “yes”, but every stat you look shows that men who live like this end up sad, lonely, and regretful. While every stat shows that men in a healthy marriage make more money, are healthier, and just generally happier.
Question of the day for all the guys: When you look in the mirror, which guy do you see?
(I’m traveling on business this week and pounding out 12 hour days, so I’ve decided to repost some golden oldies as I transition to this website)
