We are the NOW generation

[Dragon09]

We want a new house, a new car, a new ipod, a new iphone, a new ipad.

We want the perfect job, the perfect hair, the perfect girl, the perfect boy.

We want to be happy, successful, accomplished, liked, desired.

We want all those things, and more, and we want it NOW.

But life never works like, things rarely drop into your lap. Things have to be saved for, planned for, dreamed for, and WORKED for. When it comes to relationships, it worries me even more. We fall in love, we pursue, we capture, we make love, we're happy, we become dissatisfied, and we walk away. Sex and sexual gratification are entirely different to love and longing. Sex comes easy, instant gratification. More instant in men than women it would seem (in the majority of cases). But its fairly instant and immediately we recieve positive feedback from our body, and if we've done ok, from our partner's body too.

But love is different, love, true deep love takes time and patience. It grows from the love we associate with gushy chick-flicks, from the slap-in-the-face type of love. It grows from there. It needs nuturing, tending, encouraging. It takes time, understanding, and patience. Far too often we want a quick fix, the instant high. When want is so fulfilling is the satisfaction in growing ever closer, ever deeper in love, together.

True love doesn't happen right away; it's an ever-growing process. It develops after you've gone through many ups and downs, when you've suffered together, cried together, laughed together.
- Ricardo Montalban

[Poppykate]

I loved your article. It was thoughtful and meaningful!. I think that the only real way to overcome this instant gratification mindset is time!. I think that as we age, and as we achieve more of our dreams and goals, we discover the hollow feeling of easy achievement that comes with instant gratification. As humans, we want more! And start to seek more life affirming, more difficult to attain goals.

[Dragon09]

It certainly is something that I've found as I've got older. I wish I was more aware of this a lot earlier. I think it would've affected my life choices. For example, married at 22, on reflection was a mistake.

[Poppykate]

But think of the important lessons you learnt through that mistake! Think of the kind of person you would be without those life lessons!

[Dragon09]

You make a reasonable point. I have a fantastic kid from that so I really mustn't complain.

[Poppykate]

See there you go!

[Poppykate]

Is it harder to date with a child?

[Dragon09]

I'm very fortunate. I have shared custody, alternate weeks. So its a little easier to find the time.

[Poppykate]

Just curious how people on the other side of the fence live. I am as far from married and having children as anyone could get!

[jacquesvol]

Nothing new: the "Buy now, pay later" is 60 or so years old.

image.slidesharecdn.com/.../...-powerpt-36-638.jpg

[ChromAzonyx108]

I think one reason why this has become the now generation is the advance of technology and social media. So much is at our fingertips now (ex: Facebook, Twitter, news, tv shows, online shopping) that we can get things almost instantaneously.

Work culture may also contribute because companies try to improve efficiency, to remain competitive, and this often means doing things quicker and thus getting results/money quicker.

But when something worthwhile, like love, comes around we don't have the patience to wait for it because we're so used to getting things quicker now.

[Dragon09]

So true... and so sad.

[BrianSmith]

I believe for those with the mindset of instant gratification, the question is how do you transform to a long term thinker with a vision.

[Dragon09]

That, I guess is the $64M question. How indeed?

[ArtDent]

It is the culture which is manufacturing this need in you so therefore one must step out of the culture of consumption if one wishes to change this about oneself.

Most people, even after realizing this, will swallow the blue pill.

[Dragon09]

@ArtDent I'm not sure we need to step out of the culture. Let's start small and save for an iPAD or iPhone and not just get it now as part of a 'plan'. Let's try that and see how it feels.

[abundantlyrich]

You guys just want everything without working for it

[Dragon09]

There is definitely satisfaction in working toward something and achieving a goal.

[DarkHumorRUs]

I would argue that it's:

"We pursue, we're happy, we walk away, we become dissatisfied, we never capture, we never fall in love."

Just speaking from experience.

[Dragon09]

Never fall in love? Never? really?

True love takes a lot of effort, a lot of work. I guess my point being that perhaps we should give it longer, try harder, invest more time...

[cookiesandcream]

Lahat ng bagay pinaghihirapan. Lahat ng bagay pinagsusumisikapan at lahat ng bagay nasa tamang panahon. - Lola Nidora

@CourtJester agree or disagree?

[sp33d]

It's amazing how many people, especially the nowadays kids, can't understand this.

[Dragon09]

Its certainly become part of how we do business and as @acquesvol points out its been around for 3 or four generations now.

[Dragon09]

I meant @jacquesvol. apologies.

[tony72722]

I just want my gainz now.. Fck natural lifting. Wait w0tm8? FCK STEROIDS!

[NearlyNapping]

To summarize: Spoiled rotten.

[Stacyzee]

Soo true :)

[pezzonovante88]

Very true indeed.