When was the last time you looked your partner in the eyes and told them that you loved them? Or your parents? Or your friend?
Are you waiting for them to tell you, so you can take the easy route by saying it in return? Maybe you said it a couple of months ago. Or you sent a card. Or texted "ILU". Perhaps they know that you love them, and so you don't need to express it. Maybe you got back from a business trip and rushed into their arms, telling them how much you love them.
Loving makes you vulnerable. Not weak, but vulnerable: your heart is opened. Looking somebody in the eye and telling them that you love them is a deep expression of love, and also a wide opening of the door of your vulnerability. It's safer to say it on the phone, to make a joke of it, or to wait for a special moment.
It takes courage to look somebody in the eye and sincerely tell them: "I love you". Harder still when there's nothing special about the moment: when you're not lying in bed after fantastic sex, you haven't been away from each other for a fortnight, or it's not an anniversary.
One of the greatest human achievements - and one of the things that makes us so different from other animals - is this: to be able to look somebody in the eye, at no special time of day, expecting nothing in return, and simply say, "I love you".
Are you waiting for them to tell you, so you can take the easy route by saying it in return? Maybe you said it a couple of months ago. Or you sent a card. Or texted "ILU". Perhaps they know that you love them, and so you don't need to express it. Maybe you got back from a business trip and rushed into their arms, telling them how much you love them.
Loving makes you vulnerable. Not weak, but vulnerable: your heart is opened. Looking somebody in the eye and telling them that you love them is a deep expression of love, and also a wide opening of the door of your vulnerability. It's safer to say it on the phone, to make a joke of it, or to wait for a special moment.
It takes courage to look somebody in the eye and sincerely tell them: "I love you". Harder still when there's nothing special about the moment: when you're not lying in bed after fantastic sex, you haven't been away from each other for a fortnight, or it's not an anniversary.
One of the greatest human achievements - and one of the things that makes us so different from other animals - is this: to be able to look somebody in the eye, at no special time of day, expecting nothing in return, and simply say, "I love you".
No comments:
Post a Comment