Matters of the Heart - September 21, 2008

This morning, I watched the movie 1984. Why? Because it's there!! Seriously, I watched it as an assignment from Prof, because I couldn't seem to get through the book. But don't worry, I won't do my report on the movie here. I'm just going to address matters of the heart. In part of the movie, the main character, Winston, meets up with Julia. Right from the start of their relationship, she says "I love you". Three little words that can change a world, if you let it. Part of the poignancy of those words in context of the movie is that thoughts are "controlled". But Julia tells Winston that "they can't get to your heart". But maybe that isn't the case, movie or no movie. How often are our feelings dashed? How often do we feel the hurts? the pain? of loving someone, who doesn't love us back?

I believe that somewhere along the line, we've been told, or taught, some wrong things about love. Love isn't something you give, because you require it to be given back. Love isn't about another person making us feel good about ourselves. Love isn't an exchange of ~stuff~. Funny, its easier to come up with things that love isn't, than what love IS. I remember an old cartoon, where each caption started with "Love is..... " and then there was something cute, or funny, about love being this, or that. Maybe its truly as simple as this: Love just IS. We can love someone, and not have to do anything about it; or to expect it to be returned. It's just there. Sometimes its joyful, sometimes there's sadness in it. But it's still there.

About a year ago, this was one of the daily quotes on our Walmart intranet:

Never apologize for showing feeling.
When you do so, you apologize for the truth.
~Benjamin Disraeli

And.. I took it to heart. And have been much more open and honest when I have feelings for someone. Life is too short not to love. But, if you feel something and never share it, is it really love? There are so many people I love, so many people to care about, and for the longest time, I didn't share my feelings very often. I'm getting better at it. So if I tell you "I love you" , take it for what it's worth. And don't feel obligated to share it back. Unless you feel the same. I like hearing it, too.

HUGS to everyone!

Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind.
~Dr. Seuss