To Be Romantically In Love: this man's opinion.

Romantic love is often considered to exist when two people accept the concept of being more than just friends, consensually sharing themselves passionately - mind and body. This is a goal many have acquired and most desire. Everyone being unique there is no one true formula for obtaining this gift, but this is just this man’s opinion.

True love is not something that can be taken, it has to be given freely. When not done truly or freely it is but an imitation of what could be, contrary to the metaphoric saying, “to steal someone’s heart away”. What is sad is some spend their entire lives never achieving this goal, later believing their pursuit to have been a waste of time. In this, I totally dis-agree. Reminding me of the saying by Alfred Lord Tennyson, ” ’tis better to have loved and lost - then to never have loved at all.” Strangely some find this to be questionable.

Many have and will confuse romance with lust. Lust being the inbred sexual desire assuring procreation - a trait every animal posses. Where romance is the endearing thought and action displayed in a controlled manor producing a pleasurable response. The ability to differentiate romance from mere lust is what makes this form of love special to many, and considered by cynics as a naive concept. Declaring the idea of romance without lust - an impossibility. Professing that visual and mental attraction, with the help of pheromones as the only key to this equation of mutual desire.

Romance is an entity which bares many faces. It can be ones best friend and another’s worst enemy. Ahab’s white whale or someone’s pot of gold at the end of their rainbow. What history has proven, most will try to acquire it, and many have died for or because of it.

There’s one thing I have found to be true, seeking romance can be as wonderful as obtaining it. Then again - that’s just one man’s opinion.