Monday, February 18, 2013

Who we love isn't always who loves us


So I have had so many readers (all 10 of you, male and female), comment on my last blog post. Many of you told me you actually thought long and hard about who you married, who you were dating, who you slept with and why...Well, here's part B of the story:

Who we love doesn't always love us. And (yes, I start a sentence with a conjunction), that is nothing but painful.

Take the wife/husband who marry because everyone is doing it. They have a couple of kids-first kid is because, 'We want a family.' Second kid is because, 'We want to save this family.' Sometimes that works, sometimes

I can't think of anything worse/harder on actually being in a relationship because you, or everyone else, thought you should be with that person. The worst part of any relationship has to be that point after all the
-promises on both parts to do better
-promises on both parts to do the laundry
-promises on both parts to make A BUDGET
-promises on both parts to have more sex
-promises on both parts to pick up their shit
-promises on both parts to have date night
-promises on both parts to actively like their friends, sports affiliations, and family .... is said and done, and it's still not enough. And you're afraid to voice that aloud.

Who we love doesn't always love us. If that is the case, let them go. If you have your freak on because someone casually mentioned they love you, GET a GRIP, really.

So who we want to love, who we wish loves us, and who we need to love -It all needs the cosmos to work. 

I read the other day that the chance of being in the right place at the right time to meet THE love of your life is one-in one-trillionth-of a trillionth...give or take several one-billionths. For those of you who fall into that statistical anomaly-my heart applauds you. It can happen.

>LISTEN: the odds of you winning powerball with the numbers 1-2-3-4-5 are no different than the odds of playing random numbers.

I have friends in the , "It's not you, it's me." phase. I have friends in the, "It's not me, it's your ex." phase. I have friends in the, "It's not me, it's YOU phase." 
And the best, "I'm not breaking up with you; I just can't do the sex thing with you right now; or, I can't think we might be thinking of sex right now (SERIOUSLY?) phase. AS I said before, we should all change our relationship status on FB to "It's complicated." 

I've spent several expensive nights out with a dear friend who is going through a difficult time. <Trust me, one cannot quantify the number of Pink Ladies, Pinot Grigios, Tall Rum and diets, and my favorite-her latest, Fat Bastards, that will dull the ache> Anyway, Don has been scrutinizing my charges and offering to get me 'help'.

I digress, this friend is going through a tough spot. I'm not sure what to tell her. Maybe you can help, Maybe you are there, Maybe you were there. Here it is in all its nakedness, truly. 

~An attractive woman who has a lot to offer, she's married, he's married. A relationship ensues (I didn't ask if it was physical, does it matter?), he breaks it off and plays the, "It's not you. It's me," card.

She can't even allow herself the appropriate time or space to breathe...She hasn't told anyone...she can't really call in the the neighbors and say, "Hey, I need a little me time."

HE would get a High-Five from the guys for his activities.  She would get the finger from every woman she knows~those who have strayed and those who have not. Advice for the love-lorn? And on a side note, I got some backlash on this very thing last night...someone said, "That friend of yours needs to deal." <SIGH> you are missing the point; it's not about dealing with one failed relationship and moving on. It's never that simple.

And while we are discussing relationships, let's have at it:

Valentine's Day (which I do agree-bah-humbug, but that's me), or as I heard it called, Singles Awareness Day. <GUFFAW> Really? I can't go there? Is it to raise awareness and remind you that yes, you are single or is it to raise awareness that no one likes you the other 364 days of the year either...? WTF

Anyway, Valentine's Day, and mind you, I think there may be a place in Hallmark cards for Singles Awareness Day...

MEN-playing hockey on Valentine's Day is not an excuse to bail out on telling the woman you love (or think you love) that she matters (see story above, be careful) 
MEN-just because the woman in your life is out of town and things are not great, CALL HER, fucking CALL HER (see story above, be careful)
MEN-that roommate, as you call her, that cooks, cleans, puts up with your shit and has sex when you want-tell her thank you (see story above, be careful)

If I sound a bit anti-relationship, sorry. I ordered THIRTY of the "If you can't get your shit together, find another Valentine" cards, and I was told they were back-ordered. I wanted to send them to all my friends, male and female. 

Here is what I know, and some times Love really really sucks-AND Christ, all you guys take a deep breath-when we say LOVE, here's what I know: it's usually just strong LIKE. 

If we really meant love, you would know it because you wouldn't be able to stand UP, leave the bedroom and go to the kitchen to get us that glass of water, trust me.

So for those of you breaking into chills at the word LOVE, get over yourself. We LIKE you, we LOVE sunshine, puppies, flowers, chocolate, drinks with umbrellas, the first snowdrops, a dog on our feet, a door held open for us, steak done to perfection, someone who notices our joke...we really may love you, but don't panic, we are not IN LOVE WITH you....like a puppy,  yeah...

Here goes. 
Like of the moment is sweating when you stand near that person, catching your breath, feeling your hair and skin tingle. I think that's pheromones, men, no need to panic.

Like of the moment is meeting the person that you agreed to meet for lunch and a 'maybe' romantic tryst, and watching him blush.

Like of the moment is meeting a man and 4 months later meeting him again  and having him declare "He had been thinking for months how to get you into his home", not your pants, his home. <SIDE note: I heard you invited a woman as your <safe> date, really? To block that she-devil? BAH- get over yourself)

Love of the moment just means we appreciate the moment. Live in it. The women you know do, give them credit. 

**I have many opportunities to talk with men and woman. Believe it or not, most of the stories toight are from my men friends...
 

5 comments:

  1. What a great follow-up.
    So many amazing parts, Jen-babe. I love your blogs.

    But let's let go of "THE love of your life" and realize there are multiple big-time THE love_s_ of our lives. I've had the "THE one" experience (not just a passing feeling) with a few people. Note: I don't just mean the infatuations of youth that we mistakenly label "the one." I think maybe these are cross-overs in multiverses. Or maybe just reality: there are more than a few loves who are "the" one. "One" being the fuzzy term here, not "the" :-)

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    1. Oh I so agree-there is no ONE. I think the capacity to love and find love has no boundaries. I think people get weirded out when they think you are asking them for more than just love in return, be it romantic fall over and leave your partner for, or just respect, caring, the chance to spend some time together and the occasional text or phone call. <3

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  2. Ha - I think I fall into that "roommate" category....
    I got a small and weak "Happy Valentine's Day" when we got up in the morning. Not another word, card, fower petal - nothing for the rest of the day. No thank you for the card and Snickers Bar (his favorite candy ever) in his lunch. Oh, wait - he did suggest going to dinner at a restaurant I knew would be booked for the night... AFTER he walked in the kitchen and saw me already making dinner. Not a word the next day. He left early Saturday morning to visit his brother... and did not call me until Sunday afternoon. No quick text that he got there ok. No text goodnight. But, in needing a "roommate" right now, I've decided to let it go, and just start doing my own thing - as he does his.

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  3. I once got a rock for my birthday. You heard me right, a ROCK-not a 'here is a beautiful rock for your fish tank,' or a nice rock that will look superb in your garden...a rock.

    I threw it at his head.

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  4. I recently read that romantic love lasts for about 6 months to a year. After that it is considered attachment love. You still have deep affection for each other, but most of the pheromone, dopamine action has slowed down. That is not to say that there are not a few spikes in those levels, and couples DO treasure them. Attachment love provides a strong environment for progeny and is very rewarding for both partners. I guess it is sort of a feeling that your life would not be as rich as it is if you did not have your partner. (even if they do frustrate you on a daily basis)

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