Jane

That's okay. I know a lot of us know exactly what that feels like, myself included.

My current relationship eclipses my last relationship so much, it's not even funny, and yes I'm probably still in the puppy-love stage of my relationship (as it's only been a few months), but it's still much stronger and so much better than the relationship I had with my ex. And even given that... even given the fact that it's been over four and a half years since my last relationship ended... the fact that it's over... still sends me reeling even now. I literally still think about my ex pretty often. It just comes up. Lots of things remind me of him. I thought about him today and it made me sad to remember that it's all over.

I love my boyfriend a lot, but my last relationship - my first relationship - I'm thinking will always just have an impact on me. Love is complicated like that and I'm slowly starting to learn exactly what it means, how it works, and how it affects people differently.

Angel333

You know, even though I've been with my fiancee going on 13 years, I still look back on my very first relationship in my late teens with a odd mixture of fondness, sadness and confusion. My current relationship is so real, but that first one had a weird fairy tale magic, and utterly destroyed me when it was over. My current relationship though is a wild roller coaster of highs and lows, passion (both positive and negative), but most importantly,it is so real. I mean what does real mean? IDK, but my fiancee is someone I can't stay mad at too long, someone I can share anything with, he makes me discover things about myself and push me to greater heights. It just means so much to have someone that you can trust, that you can be vulnerable around, that you can let in.

Jane

I know exactly what you mean, Lori. I sort of feel that same way about my first relationship... as though it was fairy-tale-like. It's kind of funny that you make that distinction between the one being fanciful and your current relationship being "real"... because I know what you mean.

I definitely haven't been with my boyfriend anywhere as long as you've been with your fiancé. My current bf and I have been dating for only a few months, but my first relationship lasted two years... and I STILL feel like the relationship I'm in now is just so much more solid and, yeah, "real" haha. I like the way you put it.

Selfish&Cold

I believe in love. It drives you batshit crazy and makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. But it definitely exists. True love is hard to find to find but once you find it, you know. It aches and burns you up like nothing you have ever felt.

Shivercide

This, in the simplest terms.

Machinehead

I believe... that every time I read this thread title I hear Cher sing it in my head, then I hear Haddaway ask "What is love?" (baby don't hurt me...)

fearlesst15

caleb - you're ridiculous and yet when i read that i totally heard both songs in my head. ugh and they'll probably be stuck there for a while.


i'm surprised i went as long as i did without posting in this thread. now to change that.

yeah, i believe in love.

as far as romantic love goes (which is what i assume most people talk about when asking about love/believing in it/if it exists/what is it?) - it's kind of like friendship taken to another level, a higher one that's more involved, more enmeshed.

it's difficult to describe but you feel the need to try anyway. it's something you feel more than you think because it's hard to describe but unbelievably easy to let it take over you.

you think about the person whenever, even if it is for no specific reason. you see reminders of them all the time. they are the first person you want to talk to when something great or horrible happens. you just want to share with them.

you imagine doing things together and make plans for tomorrow, next week, or even 10 years down the line.


but this is just my hopeless romantic, disney-fed ideas about love. it might not fit for everyone but it's the lens i have. i know it's possible because i'm experiencing it so la dee da to anything else. i'm gonna go off and be happy and say weeeee.


so weeeeeeeeee.

Clairexx

I like your explenation, Tara.

Like Tara said, it's very hard to describe, but incredibly easy to let it take over you. I do, however, think that most people in my age group are not capable of "real" love. I think that you must have had to love different people, and had failures with love in order to find a love that will last and will work.

I don't, though, belive in the clichè "Love at first sight" sort of perspective on things.

Phucket

That's beautiful. I don't care if what I say sounds corny 'cause it's true!

Saphira

I know you said this a few days ago, but I'm having a bad day and procrastinating and figured I'd browse this thread, and I think this is a really beautiful way to sum it up. Speaking as someone who is in love, I can definitely relate to this. Thanks