Neighbourhood Forum

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True love requires more than lip service

By: Allan Balingit

Posted: 02/22/2012 10:59 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Why is it that when we are in love we are more prone to suffer pain and do crazy things?

I started thinking about this last week as my wife and I were preparing to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

In the course of human history, strange and irrational actions were reportedly committed by people who were in love.

Roman general Mark Antony committed suicide when he was fed false reports that his beloved Cleopatra was dead. Grieving emperor Shah Jahan built one of the greatest wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, in memory of his late wife Mumtaz Mahal. Queen Victoria mourned her husband Prince Albert for 40 years.

We might wonder today what is the secret that made these couples’ love for one another last beyond the grave. In this day and age when an increasing number of people are opting out of relationships, these love stories are a novelty.

All relationships have their highs and lows and keeping love alive requires time and attention. It is like raising a plant: you have to nurture it.

With four in 10 first marriages ending in divorce today, he has a valid point. After the initial excitement of being together is over, many fall into a routine and begin taking one another for granted. That is why we have to have the willingness to keep things fresh and learn how to constantly reconnect.

Nowadays, as the Internet continues to take over our lives — including helping us find the perfect mate — it reminds me about the story of a young lady who used a computer dating service.

She said she was looking for a spouse and needed help finding a suitable one.

The matchmaker asked, "What exactly are you looking for?"

"Well, let me see. He needs to be good looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good at singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour if I don’t go out; be able to tell me interesting stories when I need a companion for conversation; and be silent when I want to rest."

The matchmaker entered the information into the computer and, in a matter of moments, handed the results to the woman.

The results read, "Buy a television."

What I am trying to say is that one must see beyond the positive side of the person. I don’t mean that we have to be blind to their faults, but we must be able to see the good through the bad.

Allan Balingit is a River Heights-based writer.

Neighbourhood Forum is a readers’ column. If you live in The Sou’wester area and would like to contribute to this column, contact jim.timlick@canstarnews.com.

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