Love Hurts

When whoever uttered the words, "We always hurt the ones we love," spoke that truism, they probably had no idea exactly how right they were and continue to be.

For hearts are fragile things, weak and soft they're easily broken, smashed and crushed. That's why most of us don't wear our hearts on our sleeves, and guard this intimate part of ourselves with great zeal.

That makes it very difficult to hurt the man on the street. You really have to go out of your way to break through that exterior shell and get to what really hurts. It's not easy, but it can be done.

But with someone you love, and someone who loves you, that shell isn't there. That wonderful protective barrier that we all throw up against the world is nonexistent and in the beauty of love we trust our dearest not to crush our delicate emotions or break our fragile hearts.

But even when the love is true and genuine, accidents happen. With a proverbial flick of the wrist or a prod of the finger, an exposed heart can fall to pieces. We don't mean to, we don't try to, but when handling something as delicate as trust, the slightest fumble can open the floodgate of tears.

In response to this, many bury their hearts deep within, never to let anyone come close regardless of how worthy. While they lead protected, comfortable lives, they hide themselves from love and all it has to offer. It's an understandable act when you account for the pain, but it does nothing to fulfill, create, or inspire.

However others refuse to run from the pain. They glue the shattered pieces of their heart back together and move on, forgiving when appropriate, forgetting when necessary. Sometimes a broken heart can mean a goodbye, sometimes it's just a new beginning, but for these people, it's never the end, just another obstacle to overcome.

So while the adage of "love hurts" is a truism. I hope I never get so scared that I run away. For all of the pain and anguish love has brought me throughout my life, it has also brought me the greatest rewards. It's one of the few things in life in which you truly get out of it, what you put into it.

When it comes to matters of the heart, the patient and brave shall inherit the earth. I have been very patient my friends, I just hope now I am brave enough to carry on. Carry on into the future; carry on forever, seeing past the bad to enjoy the good, moving past the heartbreaks to cherish the heart-swells.

That alone is my goal now, that alone is my goal forever.