I Love ... Me!

Are Americans Totally In Love With Themselves?

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I was looking through a photo album the other day with a friend and I noticed he sped through all the photos until he came to those of himself, which he slowed down and scrutinized. When I look at MySpace pages, I can only think about how much time people put in to presenting the image of just how great they are. Is everyone just totally in love with themselves, or is this just good self-esteem?

Sincerely,

Self Lovelorn 

A:

Dear Self Lovelorn,

Do Americans love themselves too much? No way! 

Are they more hedonistic, materialistic and narcissistic than ever? You betcha!

But hedonism, materialism and narcissism are not signs of love. They are signs of low self-esteem, bad parenting, and even neglect. The generation that puts the N in narcissism may think it's feeling the love, but what it's feeling must be the money -- because it's not real love, and the relationship problems I see in these people are proof of that.

Parents have dropped the ball on parenting -- they're too busy for the most part thinking of their children as accessories and how to get them at any age, at any price, as long as ownership is clear. Parents are too tuned in to their own feelings so that they've forgotten what's best for themselves and their children, and that's what makes me say -- love ourselves too much? Not even close. Real love is commitment and hard work and vision.

And it's not just parents that are lacking that, but our leaders, as well. Politics has become so much about business and less about leading the country or the community. The tail wags the dog these days, and the result is hedonism, materialism and narcissism.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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