What is one of the most disappointing qualities about the human race? The answer to that is simple: we always want to categorize everything. We categorize everything on this planet. Whether that be plants, animals, bugs, people, relationships, everything. Everything has these tiny, complicated sub-categories and sub-definitions within those larger categories to make it all even more complicated and more complex for ourselves.
What makes things worse is that we categorize is non-living things. And the most confusing and simultaneously amazing element of our lives is that these virtues are categorized differently for everyone. Explaining our lives to someone else is always difficult and most of time these categories help other people better understand our individual worlds we are all in so we can become better connected with each other. It's hard to iterate the jumble of emotions and thoughts we experience every day.
Isn't that why humans created categories in the first place- to help us better understand everything around us and within us so we can stop asking questions. And even when we have all the definitions and categories and sub-categories we could ever possibly want we still ask, "what is this?"
Categories limit the world around us and categories limit us when we categorize matters of heart. With so many different variations of relationships now, categories and definitions are virtually useless. Why can’t we just let a relationship be? Why can’t we just touch and kiss and laugh without expecting a grandiose Webster's Dictionary definition to follow? Categories and titles put onto relationships fester a fear within all of us and that fear being, "how will I live up to this definition and what is this person's definition of a good person to be with?" When there are no categories, no definitions, no titles, you and your other are just left to experience. With no expectations, there is unlimited room for yourself and the other person to grow. There is no fear of being perfect and worries of having to live up to seemingly unrealistic and unreachable ideals are non-existent.
Some people want titles. Some people need titles. Some want answers to everything and who can blame those people? People like titles and definitions because it makes life so much easier and it's true. Slapping a definition and a title on something makes it safe and comfortable. Yet, I have to wonder, how often are life's best experiences the ones where you played it safe? Aren't some of life's greatest moments spent without a safety net? This is no way trashing traditional relationships, but some people need to take the risk for themselves of actually feeling every emotion on the emotional spectrum and they should absolutely be encouraged to do so.
We don't always have to know why everything is the way it is. We don't constantly have to know "what is this?" We don't always have to know where everything fits into our life. Instead of fearing the unknown, we should close our eyes, run forward with arms spread wide, and fall into it. Life will take care of itself. All we must do is go into the unknown with open arms, open hearts, and open minds.
