On Jealousy:
when we're born, we have two parents. we love them both, in that
wide-eyed admiration otherwise reserved for gods. as we grow up, we
love them more like people, and sometimes loving one more than the
other, but always trying to love both. those of us with siblings
expect our parents to love us (somewhat) equally. sure, there's
favoritism, but never the expectation that our parents should stop
loving our siblings and focus on us alone. (children who behave
thusly are punished until the behavior is corrected).
once we're old enough to have friends, we make as many friends as we
are able. when we attend church, we're told to love all of god's
creation. we're told that in heaven we will be in perfect love and
harmony with all men.
so why, when it comes to romantic love, do we let ourselves build up
this expectation that our lover should love only us? why, in the face
of a lifetime of evidence to the contrary, do we suddenly believe
humans have a fixed quota of love? that love shared elsewhere somehow
detracts from the love given to us?
bias: i believe friendship is the purest form of love, and that
'romantic love' is a version of that.
when we're born, we have two parents. we love them both, in that
wide-eyed admiration otherwise reserved for gods. as we grow up, we
love them more like people, and sometimes loving one more than the
other, but always trying to love both. those of us with siblings
expect our parents to love us (somewhat) equally. sure, there's
favoritism, but never the expectation that our parents should stop
loving our siblings and focus on us alone. (children who behave
thusly are punished until the behavior is corrected).
once we're old enough to have friends, we make as many friends as we
are able. when we attend church, we're told to love all of god's
creation. we're told that in heaven we will be in perfect love and
harmony with all men.
so why, when it comes to romantic love, do we let ourselves build up
this expectation that our lover should love only us? why, in the face
of a lifetime of evidence to the contrary, do we suddenly believe
humans have a fixed quota of love? that love shared elsewhere somehow
detracts from the love given to us?
bias: i believe friendship is the purest form of love, and that
'romantic love' is a version of that.
VIEW 12 of 12 COMMENTS
2thumbs:
Werd
kealli:
ohhhh i get it, you guys are swingers now.