Trust me, I was right there with you thinking that I needed to shut my heart off from the rest of the world. What was the point, you know? Every time, I was only left feeling more hurt, more alone, and more scared. The mere thought of wearing my heart on my sleeve was a terrifying one, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I buried my heart away, layers on layers. I built up walls around me so that I could ensure it would stay intact. But the truth is, I was only doing myself more harm. My heart may have been broken, but I finally learned that those cracks are where the light gets in. And maybe, just maybe, it’s the only way how.
The media and entertainment praise girls that are coldhearted and boys who are heartless. But, why? What are those boys and girls really gaining? I don’t think I can answer that because I wouldn’t know, but I know what they’re losing. They’re losing the opportunity to fill their lives and hearts with love and care. Their losing their chance on the best thing in the world. But, I also do believe that it’s this same media and entertainment that are setting up so many young people, myself included, with fairytales about what love should be like. The media only shows one side of the story, as if everything is simply black and white. But, that’s not true. It’s not just sunshine or rain. The only choices are not to either become a hopeless romantic or completely disbelieve in love. It’s a mix of both. It isn’t always fireworks, flowers, and sunshine on a rough day. Sometimes it’s rain soaked clothes and tear stained eyes. And, well, I guess that’s what makes love a little scary. You never know what you’re going to get. You’re jumping head first and hoping that the person is at the bottom waiting to catch you. Because of this, we tend to find it easier to hide our most fragile part of ourselves under a safety blanket.
And yes, although that is scary, please don’t let that stop you from experiencing life with so much love in your heart. Someone extremely dear to me once taught me one of the biggest lessons in my life, and it was to understand that love is not a fantasy that we see in our favorite Nicholas Sparks movie. It’s something more tangible, realistic, and raw. It means that you will be tested and even a little bent in different directions, but that’s the point. You’re supposed to grow; you’re supposed to learn; you’re supposed to love. It’s truly a process, and not always a fun one, but you’ve got to trust the process and trust the person who is standing right beside you the entire way. Sometimes it’s the only thing that you can do. It’s not easy, of course, but you learn as you go. And, you know that you did the right thing by opening up your heart because you look right beside you and the one person holding your hand is the one that you can’t see yourself without.
The world can sometimes be a cold, scary place, but if there is one thing that I have always stood by, it’s this: Love makes the world go round, it’s the only thing that can. We are so scared to appear weak and vulnerable that we find it easier to hide under a façade. But, please, don’t give up on love because it didn’t work out for you so well before, because things can happen and people can surprise you. Opening yourself up to love again is handing the other person your heart and saying “I trust you with the very thing that keeps me alive.” It’s allowing them to see your twelve o’clock tears and dustiest corners, and understanding that they’re going to love them just as much as your warm smile that makes your eyes crinkle perfectly at the corners. Because, that’s what love is. We aren’t meant to admit defeat when we find our heart broken on the floor. We are meant to fight for it and choose it over and over again.
So please, choose love. The world needs more of it, and you are the answer. I promise.
