"People keep telling me that I fall in love too easily- that I should protect my heart, that I shouldn’t wear my heart on my sleeve…
I fall in love at least 20 times a day. I fall in love with the sky and the sun and the flowers and my children. I fall in love with smiles, with music on the radio and with french fries and Dr. Pepper. I fall in love with the sound of laughter, blue jeans, accents… Sometimes I fall in love with complete strangers, especially the ones holding hands and kissing in public. The ones who aren’t afraid to be in love with the idea of being in love either….
I don’t mind the pain of unrequited love so much, because I think they’re wrong. Love looks good on me."
-Natalie Anne Erlanson-
So I know I already posted this quote today, but I felt I had to do it again. I had quite the response to it and it touched a lot of people. So much, in fact, that they started posting it themselves. This is a thing I usually love, inspiring some one or writing or bringing words to the page that speak directly to some one else. I love it. But for some reason, I was a little bothered by this today. I couldnt figure it out. It wasnt that I found it today and didnt want anyone else to use it, I mean people even credited me for finding it in their posts (so nice). Then I figured it out. Its because I feel that this is my quote. It really is me. So much me that I posted it by itself, no photo, no explination. But after realizing it speaks to and for so many other people, I wanted to explain, a little more in depth, the reasons it is me!
I honestly fall in love every day. It could be with a song, with a beautiful street, or maybe with my mother all over again, it is one of my few constants. I have so much love at times I feel I could burst. Im intensely aware of my massive loves: my family, my close friends, the boyfriend, my humor and confidence. I never take those loves for granted. Then there are the slightly less apparent loves: snowboarding fresh powder, great conversations, creating an amazing photograph stilling a moment forever. Things of this nature can literally make me melt with excitement and gratitude. Like falling in love with my city every night at dusk or every time I cross a bridge. And the loves that really get me, that stick with me, are the mini loves: a sincere smile on the street, a mood change for the better, helping someone when they have dropped their groceries. These are the loves that I love to linger on.
The moment in the quote where she falls in love with complete strangers couldnt be more me at all. I really fall in love with strangers all of the time. I love strangers that seem to be in love. It makes me warm and floods my mind delicious thought about my own romance. I love to love lonely strangers, my heart hurts a bit for them, picturing a lonely life. It sometimes makes me tear up and I actually send loving vibes or prayers, whatever you like to call them, out into the universe for them. I fall in love with friend's friends, immediately after introduction we are in love and they are also my friends. I constantly give everyone, old and new, the benefit of the doubt, simply so I can have the chance to fall in love with them.
Im not terribly concerned with receiving the reciprocation every time. Of course with my friends and family I am, but I cannot expect everyone and everything that I love to love me back with as much love and passion as I love them. I know not every one feels like I feel or loves like I love. And I even love that.
Im no crazy, I dont think the whole world is sunshine and fucking lolipops! Some times life sucks. Some times love sucks. But I have this amazing way of looking on the bright side, or at tomorrow. I have had so many terrible turns but they have always lead me somewhere better. So I end up loving the terrible turns for their end destination. It sounds cheesy but its true and it works. Its hard to get down when you love so much.
Love everyone with everything you have. Love everything and love often. Let the only protection you need be the love you know you will have again for something or some one else tomorrow.
What do you love?
it is such a blessing to fall in love. you are lucky you have this ability. keep it close and never let it go.
ReplyDeleteMe too :) In fact... I have this quote sitting in a draft I've been working on, haha!
ReplyDeleteWOW. I LOVE everything about your blog and this post. Awesomesauce.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! Written with so much passion, I actually feel inspired! Genuine and pure :)
ReplyDeleteThat quote is great, and touching.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how you mentioned falling in love with your mother, because I feel the same. The woman is so amazing, and the love she has for me is amazing.
I sit here almost literally shaken, trying to collect my thoughts. Trying to organize them into some semblance of order that will convey what I feel after reading this. Because not only is this you, it's very much me as well.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first chanced upon your site, after reading one paragraph I felt immediately at home. Like one of those places that just feels 'right', even though you know you've never been there. I felt a familiarity with your words that I couldn't reconcile, now I know why. This post is the missing piece.
You have an overwhelming passion that not a lot of people possess Lacey. I can very much relate to what you've written here, although at the moment it's hard for me to express myself with nearly as much eloquence.
There's so much to love in life that goes unnoticed, the little things we walk by without giving second thought to in our daily lives. Colours. Sunrise. The sound of laughter. The slight upturn of a mouth when we've said some seemingly small thing that changes a person's day for the better, and is long-afterwards remembered.
A passionate heart reveals itself to these things willingly and unapologetically. It cannot hide itself; it's not simply something one feels but rather what one IS.
You said, "not every one feels like I feel or loves like I love." Most won't, not with the same intensity. Sometimes I find it hard to understand; how can so many amazing moments go unnoticed? To be not tasted slowly yet devoured with fervour?
This resonates with me, "I have so much love at times I feel I could burst." I know it too well. Sometimes I've wanted to scream, other times I've been frustrated to the point of tears. Why must love in its various beautiful forms be restrained or muted? Why must people think love for another is always accompanied by romantic intentions?
If your experiences are anything like mine you've probably been misunderstood at times. Perhaps not. Regardless I hope you never stop feeling with the intensity that you do, whether for conversation (highly underrated), your boyfriend, or lonely strangers. A passionate heart as yours spreads its flame like wildfire, and there are a lot of hearts in this world that need to feel that warmth.
I thank you for sharing yours that I may feel it too.
I relate with what you posted above so much, and think I seem myself in you and that quote, which both express the thoughts so beautifully! So glad I went back through some of your older posts, and thank you for posting this, Lacey!
ReplyDeleteLiesl :)