I won't deny that I am a hopeless romantic at heart
I often fantasize about a guy standing underneath by window blasting a little Peter Gabriel from a massive boombox (actually, let's switch that fantasy up a little bit. No Peter Gabriel please. Konstantine by Something Corporate is what will make this girl go weak in the knees.)
Moving on...
I love thinking about love and yet I don't believe I have ever been "in love"
There are many people in my life that I love, and there was once a boy in my life that I thought I could love, but it just never progressed to that head over heels, can't live without you, kind of love.
Today while perusing the blogersphere, I came across this lovely tidbit of wisdom on love from none other than John Steinbeck.
This is a letter he wrote to his son who had just written professing his love for a girl named Susan:
New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.
But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
Is that not one of the greatest things you've ever read? I wish everyone could read this before they went around trying to convince themselves and everyone else that they completely understand such a complex emotion.
Sorry, that was the cynic in me speaking out for a moment.
Anyway, If you are truely "in love" and are terrified of professing this love, just remember this awesome quote:
"Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, literally 20 seconds of embarassing bravery, and I promise you something great will come of it." - We Bought A Zoo
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