Hello, strangers.
I used to think I knew what love was. I think I've mentioned this before. I thought it was that butterflies-in-your-stomach, completely giddy, head-over-heels feeling I got when I saw the person I thought I "loved." Turns out, those feelings were actually due to oxytocin... It was a completely biological/chemical response... Now, while this particular hormone is important to build particular parts of relationships, it doesn't equal love.
What I've realized from my adult relationship (5.5 yrs and going strong!) is that love is about more than just those early butterflies. It's more than just feeling head-over-heels. Those things are important in the early relationship, but what comes next is even better! Love is about a commitment to another person. It's about compromising on things you never thought you'd compromise on because you love that other person so much that you're willing to do that. It's about building an identity with that person while still maintaining your own identity (which isn't always easy to do!). It's about learning to communicate with that other person. It's about trusting that other person enough to let them have a piece of you. It's about so much more than those early "falling in love feelings." Don't get me wrong. I love the feeling of falling in love. But there comes a point in our lives that we have to realize that love is more than that. My relationship isn't always as exciting as it was in the beginning. My life is pretty predictable. Some may think that's boring, but it's the way I believe relationships evolve. When they become more serious, there isn't a need for constant excitement. I mean, I love when we do get to do fun things together, but I also love our low-key nights and enjoy them just as much.
Anyway, I guess what inspired this blog is that lately I've seen a lot of relationships crash and burn (friends, celebrities, etc.). I think that people forget that relationships take WORK! Sure, they are easy at first.. both people are on their best behavior... but when it gets hard, it seems that a lot of people would rather bail out than to actually try to make it work. I don't understand it. I think that being able to build a relationship with someone is an amazing process. There are ups and there are downs, but the downs are what make the ups SO much more enjoyable!
So, strangers, I guess what I'm trying to say is that when things get tough, don't automatically give up. Your relationship will be stronger for it. :)
P.S. The holiday season is upon us, so I may go MIA for a while. I have a 2.5-3 week vacation planned in mid-December until early January, so I probably won't be posting much. But I hope everyone has a very happy holiday season! :D
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Do what you can :)
Hello, strangers.
As I mentioned in a much earlier post, one of the things that gives my life meaning in helping others. I've been a little MIA lately because I'm currently planning a campus-wide drive to collect blankets, coats, hats, and gloves from students at my university to help the homeless in Austin (Texas) through this winter. & I'm currently planning it alone. I don't mind. I'm actually enjoying it. It's a lot of work, but I think it's totally worth it. I've just had little time to post here...
Anyway, things were put into perspective for me the other day. I woke up at 7 am in order to go to campus (I live 30 min. away from where my school is) to get paperwork signed and turned in for the drive. It was chilly out (and in my house), so I made sure to wear a sweater, heavy jeans, and a coat. I walked outside, and there was ice on my windshield (rare for Texas). My heater didn't get hot right away, so my teeth jittered as I pulled out of my driveway. I wore flats that day (without socks), so my feet were cold the entire drive. Parking on campus sucks, so I had to park at the stadium and walk to my building, which took about 15 minutes. I felt teeth-jittering cold the entire walk. Then it clicked. Here I was, dressed appropriately for the weather, cold the entire morning.. in my house, in my car, and on my walk to campus. I began to really feel how important this drive is. The homeless people in Austin had to be miserable that day.. they don't always have proper clothes for this type of weather, and many of them sleep outside, exposed to the elements. I can't imagine being able to sleep being THAT cold. It sort of broke my heart a little... or a lot, actually...
I believe, that as fellow human beings, we have the responsibility to help each other in any way we can. I know that not everyone is passionate about helping the homeless like I am... but maybe you want to help children.. or individuals with a certain illness.. or some other population. If you haven't already done it, I hope you will. Often times people ask me, "What can I do? I'm only one person. It won't make a difference." And you know what I tell them? I tell them, "You do what you CAN. That's all you can do. What may seem like a small thing to you can make a huge impact on someone else's life." So, to anyone who is reading this blog, I really hope that you go out and do what you can. :)
As I mentioned in a much earlier post, one of the things that gives my life meaning in helping others. I've been a little MIA lately because I'm currently planning a campus-wide drive to collect blankets, coats, hats, and gloves from students at my university to help the homeless in Austin (Texas) through this winter. & I'm currently planning it alone. I don't mind. I'm actually enjoying it. It's a lot of work, but I think it's totally worth it. I've just had little time to post here...
Anyway, things were put into perspective for me the other day. I woke up at 7 am in order to go to campus (I live 30 min. away from where my school is) to get paperwork signed and turned in for the drive. It was chilly out (and in my house), so I made sure to wear a sweater, heavy jeans, and a coat. I walked outside, and there was ice on my windshield (rare for Texas). My heater didn't get hot right away, so my teeth jittered as I pulled out of my driveway. I wore flats that day (without socks), so my feet were cold the entire drive. Parking on campus sucks, so I had to park at the stadium and walk to my building, which took about 15 minutes. I felt teeth-jittering cold the entire walk. Then it clicked. Here I was, dressed appropriately for the weather, cold the entire morning.. in my house, in my car, and on my walk to campus. I began to really feel how important this drive is. The homeless people in Austin had to be miserable that day.. they don't always have proper clothes for this type of weather, and many of them sleep outside, exposed to the elements. I can't imagine being able to sleep being THAT cold. It sort of broke my heart a little... or a lot, actually...
I believe, that as fellow human beings, we have the responsibility to help each other in any way we can. I know that not everyone is passionate about helping the homeless like I am... but maybe you want to help children.. or individuals with a certain illness.. or some other population. If you haven't already done it, I hope you will. Often times people ask me, "What can I do? I'm only one person. It won't make a difference." And you know what I tell them? I tell them, "You do what you CAN. That's all you can do. What may seem like a small thing to you can make a huge impact on someone else's life." So, to anyone who is reading this blog, I really hope that you go out and do what you can. :)
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