Mmm, Infatuation... (1/3)

That's right boys and girls. Gather round.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be healthy. Not just physically- everyone knows if you want a healthy body you've got to eat your fruits and veggies, not too much fat, and if you must eat dessert, don't eat the whole pie. But I'm talking about the health of your heart. The emotional one.

I've talked previously about the danger of our decisions in love. How choosing to be with someone for the wrong reasons can be just as bad as choosing to be with no one for reasons that.. well.. have proven true. This is about what we do once we've chosen someone to pair with. And the things we do that make our matches a bit less healthy.

We all have that friend; the one who constantly jumps into a relationship and allows themselves to be submerged in a lake of decisions that aren't exactly "heart healthy". (Ha, little pun) And even though they don't always like doing the things they do, they do because they feel compelled. Or because maybe these actions will keep The person they love interested for just a little bit longer.

This entry is for them.

Webster dictionary says love is "a strong affection for another person; an object of affection; a sweetheart". But then turn a few pages into the I's and infatuation is "inspire with foolish passion; esp. with love". Heh, so they can be related...

Here's the difference between healthy "love" and an infatuation. One word- "foolish". The minute, no, the second you become foolish, it's infatuation. Now, some people will tell you that love makes you do crazy things. These same people will tell you that a person will do anything for love, and that sometimes the things you do will simply not make sense. But there is flaw to this, no??

I know, I know.. I better pull out the good stuff or I might just lose you.

Movies

Valentine's Day: Ashton Kutcher's character realises he's in love and makes a mad dash to the airport to save the girl he loves from getting her heart broken by another man. love

I Love you, Beth Cooper: Paul Rust's character tells his entire school (in his graduation speech) that he's in love with Beth Cooper, a girl who barely notes his existence, and really doesn't care about anyone but herself. infatuation

He's Just Not That Into You: Ginnifer Goodwin's character is so hung up on a blind date, she goes to a place he says he frequents with a made-up reason to "run into him". Come on.. Do I have to? infatuation

Songs

It's Raining Men: These lady is obsessed with all men... I believe the correct term is horny, but for all intensive purposes... infatuation

Something: The Beatles really have a way of saying what the heart feels.. love

Losing My Religion: REM sings about all the things that could be... with someone who has obviously given up even considering loving you back. infatuation

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing: Aerosmith captures the thoughts we all have when thinking about or looking at the person we adore the most. This might be bordering a tad bit on infatuation though.. I mean you can't watch someone sleep all the time. That's just creepy. love

Look. It's pretty simple. The minute we find ourselves stalking someone, stealing their things, or writing them songs about how good they had it in the sack (once they've left you- that's right Alanis...), we are totally infatuated.

Our hearts need the balance that love brings. After all, you know that a "life without love is no life at all", right? It's important that when we do choose to open our hearts that we remain understanding and reasonable (at least mostly) about our following actions. So now that you've pulled yourself out of the idea of choosing no one to love, chose the right one. And allow yourself the chance to be you. Don't get caught up in pleasing him/her, or trying to keep hem around. Being yourself ought to take care of that.

But in the event things don't work out, instead of spending your time obsessed with the final days of the relationship, or what you did wrong, think about all the things you did right. And give yourself a pat on the back.