Love Doesn't Exist (But That's Okay)
Start writing a post
Student Life

Love Doesn't Exist (But That's Okay)

It's time to clear up some misconceptions.

3223
Love Doesn't Exist (But That's Okay)
Bailey Jenkins

What if I told you love doesn’t exist? Well, as depressing as it sounds, it doesn’t-- at least not in the way we think it does.The fairy tales we grew up hearing as a child are nice, but they aren’t realistic. The truth is, love is a lot more complicated than we think, and it also isn’t immune to being affected by outside situations and people. Instead of entering every relationship expecting sunshine and rainbows, we should be realistic about what it will really look like and how it is different than society sometimes makes it out to be.

For one thing, love does not always mean romantic love. A lot of people underestimate the power of friendship, sisterhood, and family, but these are all just as valid and can be just as strong as dating someone. I don’t want you to read this article and just think about your boyfriend or girlfriend. Remember that all relationships you have with others are significant, and it’s important to be grateful for every bit of love that comes your way-- even if it doesn’t include making out and holding hands. If you want to get a picture of what love really looks like, lose the idea that it has to be romantic to critically affect your life.

Secondly, love is not easy by any means. Every single person you meet in your life will disagree with you, at least in some ways, and there will always be fights. Not only will you argue, but you will find yourself crying over every person you love at some point in your relationship with them. No one is ever going to be so compatible with you that you never fight about anything, and everyone makes mistakes. The important thing to realize is that some people are worth the pain, and some are not. It’s crucial to your well-being to be able to recognize detrimental relationships and cut them out of your life whenever possible.

And lastly, we should lower our expectations of what our ideal relationship would look like. Although it’s nice to have a “type” picked out for our significant other or our ideal best friend, it’s nearly impossible to find someone who is exactly what we picture in our heads. Nine times out of ten, you’ll find that the perfect person for you doesn’t exist. Instead of limiting ourselves to one type of person, we should let everyone have a chance in our lives. Who knows? They might surprise you.

In the end, your life, and consequently, the people in it, will never be perfect. You will most likely never find a relationship that looks exactly like the books and movies. However, this doesn’t mean that letting people close to our hearts is pointless. Every person we meet has the power to change our lives, for better or worse, and the lessons we can learn from others are limitless. The good and the bad both have the power to teach us things about ourselves, and every experience will undoubtedly be worth it at the end of the day.
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51473
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33040
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956035
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180984
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments