This bitter earth

Just been listening to a lovely remix of a song by Dinah Washington made for the Shutter Island film.

"This bitter earth, yes, can be so cold, today you're young, too soon you're old..."

"And if my life is like the dust, that hides the glow of a rose...then what good am I?"

Those are just two of the lyrics I liked from the song - but it made me think. We're always trying to "get it right", as Dinah sings in her song - we have to age quickly to be the right age, slow down ageing so we're not too old for people.

In the world at the moment (as I see it) we have to have love or a partner, we have to progress our careers and selves.

Is someone keeping a tally? Is there a check board out there (that I haven't seen) which has boxes next to tasks everyone has to achieve?
Find a love.
Lose a love.
Live in a certain type of house/flat.
Achieve so much in a sport or hobby.
Get married.
Have kids.

Are we driven to these things, because they are natural and genetically we need to do them?
Is it because we're driven by social stigma and pressure if we do not?

Many of us are driven by a need to be special, individual and recognised. But when it comes to these social pressures, most people I talk to don't want to stick out at all.

My friends just want to be part of the group.
Have a partner - check
Live together - check
Make babies - check
Three checks = happiness

Or does it?

What of those people who don't want to be partnered up? And what of those who can't find a partner they like/likes them? Should they be desperately unhappy as they can't tick all the boxes?

I don't think so - but the pressures from society make them.

I haven't finished this thought - but I want to find a way so that not everyone has to feel trapped and perform certain tasks in their lives.

I think it links slightly with another thought I'm about to write on vanity - but I'll see.