Hold Onto Love (721 hits)
Category: RomanceRating: 1 on 16 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by netimportant (View user info) at 2007-08-23 21:12:57 EDT
I imagine that my grandfather married my grandmother because she was the best woman from the neighborhood that he managed to snag, and my grandmother married my grandfather because he asked. Then, even though my grandfather turned into a lifelong alcoholic and they began sleeping in separate bedrooms, they stayed married because they saw no other alternative. Religion or financial reasons or potential social shame kept them together until they were old and incontinent.
Sometimes it seems like love would be simpler if there was no perceived escape, or if our parents chose our spouses when we were infants and from then on, everything was laid out for us and there was no thinking or worrying involved. Most of us would choose the freedom of today over simplicity of the past, but freedom comes with its own set of problems.
Now, more people are college educated and able to advance in their careers, and women are self-sufficient. People don't need to rush into marriage to achieve a sense of stability, and with school and important careers to occupy our time, we're starting families a decade later. Rather than wedding our high school sweethearts, we fuck dozens of people and fall in and out of love over and over before settling for someone we think we can stand forever, if we settle down at all. Then, 50% of those that do settle down get divorced.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the way lifestyles have changed—it's great to be independent and have a successful career. But what does all this mean for a hopeless romantic like me? How many times can I say the words "I love you" to someone who decides they want to scope out this increasingly smaller world for something better before those words lose their meaning?
My mom likes soap operas, and I remember watching a few with her as a kid and thinking that the adults always made problems way more complicated than they needed to be. As I've grown up, I've seen it happen in real life. The root of most of the drama seems to stem from the ego...people get defensive and callous when they've been hurt, and they act in sneaky, flippant, cruel, and selfish ways. Bruised pride causes them to throw out love like garbage, and today more than ever, they can rationalize with the cliché, "There are other fish in the sea."
Today, love's possibilities are neverending. With every inch of the world within reach by airplane, there will always be a better match than the man or woman you love right now. You could drive yourself crazy wondering whether or not you're with the right person, when the truth is that there really is no right person. Love is just love, and what you feel is what you get.
It's imperfect, it can be hard work, but it's what makes life. You could look like Brad Pitt, own a golden palace and a hundred concubines, and if nobody loves you, you're a sad and empty motherfucker.
I think that for love to succeed nowadays, you have to face the fact that there are millions of other opportunities out there, and make a conscious decision that what you have is worth holding onto in spite of that. You have to be ready to swallow your pride, stop thinking about yourself first all the time, and make an effort to appreciate the value of another human being who respects you, cares about you, and makes you feel good. Decide to hold onto love, decide to be happy, and you will be loved and happy.
User Reviews
Submitted by sideshow (user info) at 2008-04-04 13:27:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very insightful, I enjoyed reading this!
Submitted by netimportant (user info) at 2007-08-24 15:51:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Gee thanks.
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-08-24 14:58:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
After the first 2 paragraphs, I was set to -2 this and move on, but for some reason, I kept reading. It ended up not being horrible.
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2007-08-24 13:22:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
you may be onto something here...
Submitted by simple_catalyst (user info) at 2007-08-24 09:37:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I's in love with a girl on marijuana
She said if i'm not stoned I don't wanna
But she got so paranoid
Her place I would avoid
I's in love with a girl on marijuana
I's in love with a girl on cocaine
She had everything going but her brain
We'd talk endlessy for hours
But by morning I'd go sour
I's in love with a girl on cocaine
Through extacy, crystal meth and glue
Found no drug compares to you
With all these pills
And all this weed
I don't know just what I need
I's in love with a girl on l.s.d.
She'd see things i'd never see
She broadened her perspective
Then I got more selective
I's in love with a girl on l.s.d.
Through extacy, crystal meth and glue
Found no drug compares to you
With all these pills
And all this weed
I don't know what I need
I's in love with a girl who drank beer
Till bad breath and all she disappeared
She was blowing up real bad
But when she left I was still sad
I's in love with a girl who drank beer
I's in love with a girl on china white
We were married for a year one night
Her memory still lingers
Cause I burned all my fingers
I's in love with a girl on china white
I's in love with a girl who drank coffie
There was times when I couldn't keep her off me
That caffine got her going
But her ugly side was showing
I's in love with a girl who drank coffie
I's in love with a girl who was a dealer
I's afraid some body'd come and steal her
We never used to fight
But the phone rang day and night
I's in love with a girl who was a dealer
Sure as hell
She got popped by the big guys
Submitted by sir_cowman (user info) at 2007-08-24 07:34:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
how does this have a positive rating?
Submitted by Snare (user info) at 2007-08-24 05:45:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
And when 'love' is caught having popper-fueled monkey sex with your best mate from high school?
Happiness is a shot-gun.
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2007-08-24 04:37:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I agree. A couple of years back I was considering finding someone I liked, respected and cared for and marrying them. Let the love come as the relationship matures. All you need to have in common is a conscious decision to make this relationship work, whether or not it is fun all the time. I'm not a romantic, except in my weakest moments, and I believe in commitment. I hate the concept soulmate, refuse to accept that there is only a limited amount of people we "match" with, and generally don't buy into the bullshit Hollywood happy ending crap.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-08-24 03:52:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Hmm its a very calculated way to look at something, I still like to think 'things' happen for a reason.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2007-08-23 23:35:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I'M ALL OUT OF LOVE, I'M SO LOST WITHOOOOUUT YOU
Submitted by experima (user info) at 2007-08-23 23:03:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-23 22:15:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
at first glance i thought 'blah blah blah' -2 this and move on.
Then i read more, you have some good points. so +2
Submitted by Acarnis (user info) at 2007-08-23 22:01:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
not bad.
Submitted by Ballare (user info) at 2007-08-23 21:49:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
It's just not that easy.
Or maybe it is, and I'm missing out.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-08-23 21:35:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by sir_cowman (user info) at 2007-08-23 21:22:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You just said a lot without really saying anything.