Love is at least as important as a career and money
Ah yes, love. It exists in many forms: liebe, l'amour, amor. Today we will be dealing with true or unconditional love. What is true love? It's difficult to define, but this I can say: Thus far in my life I am convinced that the only woman who has shown me true love is my mother.
Now, before the wave of disgust hits you, let me say for the record that true love is not the same as romantic love. Hell, I can find romantic love anywhere. I think we all could. But true love seems to elude us. Having said that, I pose a question: Does it elude us, or does it actually want to be found?
My recent contemplations on this subject have led me to believe that there aren't very many people in this contemporary world who care about true love, until it is almost too late. For example, it has always been my idea to find true love at a young age, when the options are many, rather than waiting until you are older with money and a job. At that age, the options start to dwindle as potential lovers are being taken, and many of those who remain are either "damaged goods," or they simply have no interest in finding true love.
The majority of us seem to be more concerned, or rather, distracted, with success, the ability to earn a deluge of money or simply the idea of creating one's life. What many of us forget though is that love has been shown time and time again to be a fundamental element of a long life full of vitality and overall emotional and mental well being. Success and money, not so much - at least fundamentally. Now it must be noted that not having money or a good job could lead someone to depression and eventually suicide, but in all fairness, a firm, deep heartbreak could have the same effect.
I'm not saying that you should completely forget about creating a life for yourself and making money, I'm simply asking you not to forget about true love and the potential it has to improve your life beyond what you have imagined. Be careful not to let the benefits of money and success overshadow the benefits of someone who is willing to give you their love under any condition. These people are becoming increasingly difficult to find in our world of instant gratification. After all is said, maybe I'm being unrealistic. But then again, maybe I'm not.
- Bryce Renfro is an interdisciplinary studies senior
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