pressure

I've lived a third of my life and I'm just getting to the point where I totally get the concept of ignoring outside opinion. I had to get there eventually; I've always been a rebel. It's just sad I had to conform to the point of confining myself to a life I've never wanted before realizing that.

I cannot remember a time in my life that I ever wanted marriage and children (except for the part where I was convinced, thanks to well-meaning devils, that I did). I was always a loner; I never liked kids; I didn't date and didn't care to. Not much has changed in the past 15 years except: as one gets older, one is expected to date, get married, have kids, and LIKE IT!!! And if you don't like it - no matter how adamantly you insisted that you knew you wouldn't - it's your fault and you are a bad person if you end up conforming to the standard model and don't enjoy it. Then, the same people that insisted that you really, really do want a family will tell you that you are dysfunctional, depressed, screwed up, and in need of therapy because you - surprise! SURPRISE! - actually don't like the standard model.

(As you tried to tell them for the first 25 years of your life. Yet, that is your fault, and you are the one in need of therapy. Yeah.)

I have a lot more to say on the subject of pressuring people who clearly have no aptitude or desire for relationships into situations where they are only going to hurt other people and be hurt for it, but I'll just leave it here for now as food for thought.