I asked a class of college students what the idea of falling in love brought to mind. These were the first two answers that were blurted out:
- Heartbreak
- Pain
In that order. Next were a series of things that lead to that pain – vulnerability, exposure, caring, etc. I was struck that joy, growth, peace, kindness or any other more productive idea was not top of mind. Had they never witnessed what the joys of love were OR had their memory of the joys been over powered by the pain experienced in heartbreak?
With a world that is often overpowered by destruction, the memory of what is productive is a gift. For those of us who have experienced the beauty of love AND remember it, we have at least one responsibility. That is to remind ourselves and others of love – that it exists, that we can work towards it, and do so in light of it’s memory.
If all that we remember is the pain, we will avoid the path of love at all costs. Remember the joy, and share that memory, and the world will slowly change.