Member-only story
Love is Never a Mistake
But expecting reciprocation can hurt you
Love songs rarely reflect the essence of genuine love, and often, our expectations don’t, either.
A singer croons about his longing for the one he loves, demanding reciprocation. The sweet yet sour words hang in the air as if they want to be embraced. While appreciating the voice and melody, I discard the offering.
It’s natural to want someone you love to love you in return. But sometimes, we imagine love as a material thing we must exchange. Unless we see a return on our investment of time, energy, and the expression of our hearts, we believe we are the victims of fraud.
The song wraps itself in an accepted ideology we don’t often explore, not enough to find the truth about love. Society agrees to take on the notion you must receive after you give. The concept negates the spirit of love, however, tarnishing it with an unsavory hue.
Because of such dogma, it’s easy to get swept into the mire of lies about love and believe the joy it gives must come from someone else. Unless they love you back, your love for them is seen as a nasty, painful scourge. Hence, the impression that love hurts.
Love, though, never hurts, and it’s not a mistake, despite song lyrics touting distortive and maligning definitions. The…
