I've been thinking awhile on one of the great mysteries of human nature- love. As my nerdy self, I try to find scientific explanations for such things. I have created a list of symptoms, causes, and yes, even prevention strategies. Alas, I cannot continue to hold my research when I come along things such as these. Here I have collected a collage, if you will, of quotes about my research topic. A few have personal meaning, a few brought tears to my eyes. If this doesn't make you want to fall in love, I don't know what will.
Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship - never. -Charles Caleb Colton
Love is a friendship set to music. -Joseph Campbell
You know when I said I knew little about love? That wasn't true. I know a lot about love. I've seen it, centuries and centuries of it, and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable. All those wars. Pain, lies, hate... It made me want to turn away and never look down again. But when I see the way that mankind loves... You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So yes, I know that love is unconditional. But I also know that it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing, and... What I'm trying to say, Tristan is... I think I love you. Is this love, Tristan? I never imagined I'd know it for myself. My heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it's trying to escape because it doesn't belong to me any more. It belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I'd wish for nothing in exchange - no gifts. No goods. No demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you loved me too. Just your heart, in exchange for mine. -Yvaine, Stardust
Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. - Mother Teresa
Sometimes it's a form of love just to talk to somebody that you have nothing in common with and still be fascinated by their presence. -David Bryne...
What of you had a great life and didn't even know it?
Lately I've been asking myself that as a reminder of good things. Tragedy is to be so caught up in what you're afraid of that you miss all the beauty directly in front of you, all the opportunities to love on people. And we are all afraid of so many things, some more than others. We're afraid our needs won't be met, that we won't matter, that we will be disliked, that we have fumbled things so badly there is no recovering. And if you are a writer, chances are you feel things a little more keenly, for both good and ill.
I think a solution to this is to be present. In this very moment what do you have? Who can you bless? I regret things I have done, but I've never regretted showing love. Not in the common sense of the word, but what it means at its foundations. Love is not being nice, it is being kind. It is not ignoring faults, it is seeing them and forgiving them. It is not doing what feels good, it is doing what's right. It is not placing yourself beneath another, it is removing your self from the equation entirely. Love is hard and it will not allow your pride to survive. It is the crossroads where you decide it is of more worth to value another person and their needs than to be right, heard or important.
I have not always been true to this. It is no easy task, but then real love wouldn't be so powerful unless it was a thing deep and high, something that enfolds all. Love has jurisdiction in both a kind word and a profound sacrifice.
Sometimes, people we can influence enter our lives and we spoil this opportunity. We use our power to wound instead of encourage. As I look at my sleeping husband, I know he is in my life for a reason. He is a...
The diet has begun. I really don't like the term diet, because every time I say it, people scowl at me and say stuff like, "You don't need to lose weight! You're already skinny!" It's irritating. Mostly because I think we all have ideals of what we would like to see our body as. And they're right. By most people, I am considered thin. But I want to be healthy (I can't emphasize this enough, guys). I want to eat stuff that gives me energy and vitamins and all that jazz. It's true that I've craved nothing but hot fries all weekend, but I think that is just an example of the problem.
I also have a little bit of a belly pudge. It happens. I would like to get a bit more muscle, and at least make that go down. So, no, I'm not overweight, but I think I could improve. Some people want curves, some want thigh gaps, I would would like strength and endurance. Worst case scenario? It doesn't work out, I hate it, and I go from there.
Okay, sorry. /rant over.
Moral of the story: Aim for your goals. You're beautiful.
So, I went grocery shopping last night with my roommate and some buddies of ours. I bought a few things with the a little help from some friends (*breaks out into The Beatle's song*). A sneak peek:
Lean chicken breast Spinach Broccoli Tuna Wheat Bread Total cereal 2% Milk
These are a just a few of the things, but everything I bought was less than 50 bucks (that's my personal goal when I go shopping). For breakfast this morning, I had a measured out bowl of Total, a banana and a water bottle. To snack on, I measured out a few nuts to nibble on, and some more water. I think I'll make some rice and chicken tonight, maybe with some spinach.
So far, I think I'm doing pretty good. At least it's not White Castle, right? Also, I want to give...