“It’s a long story, and complicated to boot, but.. just, thanks for the encouragement with the **** thing. We’re really finally coming into our own as a couple (and trust me, it has NOT been an easy road… we’ve been togetherish for fourth months, only four DAYS of which we’ve been able to spend together), and it’s… the most. I know the last part of that sentence is missing a noun, but that’s intentional. It is the most. It doesn’t require a noun. I think you must have some idea of what I mean. You’ve been in love before. You ARE in love. You know. It’s the most. No other words needed. The most. The end. I know we must be doing something right because every time he says “I love you,” or calls, or even just enters my thoughts, my heart goes WHOOSH. I never really thought I was the “falling in love” type, but… this is divine. This is love, I know it. So thanks for recognizing that potential and nudging me towards it, even though it’s difficult to be apart and feel this much. It’s worth it. He’s worth it.”
This is an e-mail I received from a friend of mine about a certain person special to her heart. And I broadcast it for the shear reason that it’s beautiful. Hearing about happy couples, stories about love flourishing- it brings me joy.
哀話世界の周りです。
Love actually is all around.
A common mindset that people adopted when they entered college is that everything needs to be grounded in reality. If there is a time when people look at their dreams and go, “Yup… that’s all they are,” it’s when they get into college. And there’s not even some great event that happens. There’s just a stigma to living life on one’s own and it throws his/her perspective on its side and leaves a person feeling different. One typical sentiment so many people I know have come to share is that they forget about the power of love. Love has stopped making the world turn for so many people because they think that good grades which will lead to a good job in 4+ years is what’s going to sustain them (among other various reasons). But from the background I have, I know that love is something everyone needs, and if you have it? You don’t abandon it, you embrace it harder than you ever have when times get tough. So when anyone dear to me has come to me seeking help with their life, I’ve stayed true to the fact that they need to stay true to the most special person in it. Whether it’s been a family member, a lover, or a friend, it’s all about holding the person you love the most as humanly close to your heart as possible. Since entering college I’ve see tons of breakups lead only to confusion and emptiness. And shortly after the departure, a reconciliation almost always happens, because the two people realize that the love they share isn’t meant to be pushed away, it’s meant to be embraced.
Love is a fucking hard road to tread. It’s so hard because the urgency of two hearts longing to be one is some of the most excruciating pain a person can go through- finding the confidence and the strength to continue on sometimes feels impossible. But what I always like to say is… just remember that you’re feeling that pain. If you feel that pain for a person you adore- imagine how heavy that heart will feel without that person? And on the upside, that grief is beautiful. Your soul is so connected with another’s that it hurts. That’s how hard you are loving.
It’s okay to “need” someone. By lending your life to the hands of another, you are not being weak or pathetic. You’re just being human. We all need someone to lean on and it’s stupid to think we might not. In the e-mail above, you’re reading the account of a girl who never thought “falling in love” was for her… you’re reading the account of probably the toughest, most independent girl I know… yet here she is experiencing her first true love in college and is willingly holding onto it with every single odd stacked against her. And it’s all because she’s just being honest with herself and knows that when her love is in any way a part of her life, it’s the happiest she can possibly be. And while maybe the time’s when he’s away it means it’s the saddest times of her life, she understands that true love is not something that just happens nor is true love something to just shrug off. True love is something to fight for and something that cannot be replaced. What’s more is that love comes with cute texts some mornings that say, “I dreamt of you last night.” Love comes with phone calls that let you discuss anime tv shows like FLCL because no one else seems to enjoy it. Love comes with the warmth of someone always being there to hold your hand and kiss your cold nose. Love comes with tickle fights and a spilled hot tea that was made just for you. Love comes with a permanent movie-watching partner and a food critic always eager to try new things. Love comes with an attractive Indiana Jones prepared to always go on adventures.
Love comes with a partner for life that can make your circle become full.
Regardless of who you are, love makes everyone’s world turn. I am 100% confident in that. That’s how powerful it is. If you’re feeling empty, if you’re feeling sad, if you’re feeling confused, afflicted, distressed, stressed, messed, or ANYTHING. Let the love in. Call a friend to say hi, text your girlfriend that you miss her, Skype with parents just to see their faces. I know I’m jumping around here talking about all different sorts of love- from platonic to paternal to romantic- but it’s all love… and it’s all going to make you feel wonderful. In my opinion it’s the romantic love that really fills you up the most… but love is love. It feels fucking awesome no matter where you get it or how intense it is.
The Beatles didn’t totally nail it… You need more than just love in your life. You need a lot more. But you wanna know something? You still need love.