Struggling to see the beauty
You meet someone new. You might get along, you might not, but you give it a chance in hopes of having a good time.
Knowing that your time is limited, you know that anything that happens is only momentary. And for whatever reason, having an expiration date on your time together somehow makes it easier to open up; easier to expose yourself. You share passion, laughter, touch, love, ideas, perspective, fun — at this point you’ve revealed a part of your soul because the fear of rejection doesn’t exist.
These moments with this person are finite. With no expectations, it doesn’t really matter. And because of that, your time together is honest and genuine; a truly authentic interaction. It’s blissful. It’s invigorating. Refreshing. Perfect. But then it’s gone.
And you’re left with a choice:
To be heartbroken because those moments are gone forever and you may never see that person or have that experience again.
or
To embrace the beauty of the connection you had and keep it as a fond memory of a serendipitous happening, which plays a small part in your grand journey.
It’s obvious which of the two is the ideal. But since when is the ideal ever the simplest reality? As moments pass, your mind wanders back and grips onto those memories, recounting what was said, trying to retrace the lines of the person’s face in your mind. If only you could see that person just once again.
You wonder if your paths will ever cross again. How nice that would be…
But then you snap back to reality.
You’re forced to face the fact that the moment has passed. And that you have these fond memories because that moment had an expiration date in the first place.
Now you start to see why it’s a beautiful thing. To have a connection, then to let it go. Because although that same connection may not be anymore, it affected you in some way. It has been added to your shadow box of experiences, expanding your vulnerability and deepening your ability to connect.
You realize that you got to feel…and it felt so good. You miss it, but it is now a part of your life and who you are. You can remember it, talk about it, re-live it. Because at one moment in time, you lived it. And it was only possible because you lived it in the moment.
So, you fight the urge to build walls to avoid future heartbreak. And you learn to accept the beauty of fleeting moments and brief encounters.
Because you know that walls from the past didn’t allow for this moment — being open and willing to take a risk with someone new for the sake of a good time did.
And it’s that openness that will allow for other moments like these.
