Am I the last single girl in the world?

Ok, so maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but “the last single girl in my group of friends” doesn’t quite flow as well.

Lately I’ve been reading a lot about Millennials since we are a pretty hot topic, and there is one statistic that kept coming up that I found surprising based on personal experience.

It said: “While the Millennials value marriage and parenthood highly, they are ‘markedly less likely to be married or to have children than earlier generations were at comparable ages.  Three-fourths of Millennials ‘have never married,’ and young people who marry today tend to do so at an older age than their elders.  It says that ‘Twenty-one percent of Millennials today are married. At the same stage of life for Xers and Boomers, twice as many were married at this stage in life.’ (Pew Research Center)

But, when I look at my own surroundings, I have trouble believing this. Within the past year, I’ve seen about 6 or 7 of my closest friends (all early/mid-20’s), get engaged and/or married. Out of a group of 10 or 11, that’s about 60 percent.

And before you ask, no they are not in some crazy religious sect, no they haven’t sacrificed careers for marriage, no they aren’t facing pressure from parents or culture, and no these aren’t shotgun weddings. These are legitimate, healthy relationships with two responsible people.

I think there is a lot of talk about how maybe our generation would be hesitant to get married because of the sheer number of divorces in our parents’ generation (only 6 in 10 Millennials grew up with both parents). But as a general trait, Millennials are optimistic, and it seems that most still have faith in marriage.

In case you hadn’t figured it out, I am not married (and probably not close to it, even though my friends know I’ve always wanted to pull a “Khole Kardashian” and get married less than a month after meeting someone…But I digress). I am all for marriage, and hoping this doesn’t come off as cynical- it’s just my observations on what’s going on around me.

Up until now, I had been tracking along at pretty much the same pace as all my friends. Moved away from home after high school to start college at 18, finished up our degree in 4-5 years, and just started our careers within the last year or two…. but then this is where the big fork in the road is occurring.

Many things I had gotten used to are changing. I know that the all-girls Vegas trips will most likely be a thing of the past, and there is now another person to take into account when planning get-togethers. Conversations have shifted from “the hottie I met at the bar last night” to “the hot new trends in wedding décor.”

And with this, I will admit that I do feel behind the curve. Like I’m doing something wrong.  According to the statistics I’m right on track, but according to what’s around me, I’m seriously behind.

And more just hoping I don’t get left behind. When transitioning to a new life-stage, it’s natural to seek out friends who are experiencing the same things you are. What happens when some of your friends just aren’t “there” with you?

So, is this a fluke? Is there something in the California water? Has cupid focused most of his attention in my general area? I’m interesting in hearing about what other Millennials are experiencing.

The only thing I do know? Kids are coming next so I better brace myself for that one. =)