Last year I broke up with someone I cared for deeply. For myriad reasons, mainly distance, it was agreed we had to let each other go. It was a bittersweet parting as the connection, trust and respect we had built for each other over our two years of on-and-off dating was still there.
And it was beautiful, even if impossible. His parting words at the time were, “what a tragedy to be throwing such good love away”. It seems relationships have become too easily disposable, discarded at the first whiff of spoil.
Credit: ISTOCK That statement almost winded me, as what he said was profoundly true. Today, I am discovering good love is hard to find and, sadly, often hard to keep. It seems relationships have become too easily disposable, discarded at the first whiff of spoil.
Tolerance levels are low to the point of nadir, individual baggage packed to capacity with pain. We have learnt how to stand up and defend ourselves, but our armour has become impregnable. We protect ourselves from hurt at all costs, which means love can come at too high a price.
I am not just talking about romantic love here, although I admit it adds layers of issues and pressures platonic love does not. I’m talking about good, real love, the kind that fills your emotional bucket, that makes you feel understood, that has your back - an alchemy that chemically connects two disparate souls into a safe place of sanctuary and support. It is rare and fragile, something that must be nurtured, cherished and apprec.