My family believes so firmly in the institution of marriage, most members have walked down the aisle multiple times. Divorce is just another way of making sure they can sign the wedding contract again.
There's a total of 13 divorces in a family where there's only 9 people eligible for marriage at the moment. Only two couples have managed to stick together in their first try. Relationships of the not-so-serious type are a commonality. Christmas is rarely spent with the same people. There's always a new face, a new name to learn. Boyfriends and girlfriends come and go. New wedding means new divorce. New divorce means new relationship. New relationship means new wedding. And so it goes.
I doubt it comes as a surprise for anyone what I'm going to say next. But from the bottom of my most cynical self... I do not, by any means, believe in eternal love. More importantly, I do not believe in the signing of a contract that forces love to be permanent.
As my genetics have taught me, I love love, love being loved, love loving, love the idea of love. But the idea of "forever" holds as much truth in my eyes, as the world being at the center of the universe did for Copernicus.
And if we can't decipher the meaning of eternity, what the hell are we doing giving love--the most asbtract feeling of all-- such a quality?
The idea of forever cuts away from the romanticism in a relationship. If it's a given that we're spending the rest of our lives with this same person, then why even try to make things more passionate? It's pointless, not to mention unnecessary, to want to make you're partner fall deeper in love. It's a contract and it's been signed. Sorry buddy. You're in this for the long run. Whether you're still loving me or not.
Let's be realistic. When the concept of marriage was invented, people lived shorter lives than we do today so they could actually bare with their companions. But now, an extra 25 years have been added to life and try being with the same person for 50 years. Every day, for ever. F-o-r e-e-v-e-r. Jeez.
If we get over heartbreaks, over people we were so in love with, then why would we believe that love is forever? By ourselves we have empirically proven otherwise. Love is fluid, it goes from one person to the next. Love is also circumstancial-- today you love someone because he listens to the same music you do, or because he sings well and you're into singers, or because you're into the way he dresses. But what if all of a sudden you decide you like a different type of music and singers aren't as cool as actors. Then what? Different circumstances, different feeling, different person to love. Or not to love. Bye bye plaid shirts, hello white v-necks.
After 13 divorces, it's been settled in my mind that love is as eternal, as the feeling is there and as long as you can't picture your life without your love. But, again, if the circumstances change, so might your feelings.
I don't oppose celebrating Valentine's Day. In fact, let's celebrate the fact that love exists. But don't get tide down to the idea that it must be for ever. Plus if the feeling is so great, why settle for one when we can have many loves?
Happy Birthday, Copernicus
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