The Potential to Fall in Love a Thousand Times

We all have the potential to fall in love a thousand times in our lifetime. It’s easy. The first girl I ever loved was someone I knew in sixth grade. Her name was Missy; we talked about horses. The last girl I love will be someone I haven’t even met yet, probably. They all count. But there are certain people you love who do something else; they define how you classify what love is supposed to feel like. These are the most important people in your life, and you’ll meet maybe four or five of these people over the span of 80 years. But there’s still one more tier to all this; there is always one person you love who becomes that definition. It usually happens retrospectively, but it happens eventually. This is the person who unknowingly sets the template for what you will always love about other people, even if some of these loveable qualities are self-destructive and unreasonable. The person who defines your understanding of love is not inherently different than anyone else, and they’re often just the person you happen to meet the first time you really, really, want to love someone. But that person still wins. They win, and you lose. Because for the rest of your life, they will control how you feel about everyone else.
- Chuck Klosterman

My feelings towards Valentine’s Day remain unchanged. But as the holiday is tomorrow, this quote struck a chord with me. Sometimes I think I have met the person that defines how I will perceive the idea and feeling of love for the rest of my life… but other times, I’m not so sure if that person is the person, if that makes sense.

At any rate, I completely agree with Chuck Klosterman’s sentiments on the matter. The most important people in your life will have the largest impact on you, and the people you love will change you forever.

Cross-posted from breakthesky.net. Please leave any comments there.