"So this is love...mmmmm...so this is love."
It's a song familiar from my childhood. My sisters and I used to watch Disney's version of
Cinderella over and over and over again. (Click
here to hear the song.) Cinderella and Prince Charming dance, staring deep into each others eyes, and sing this song to each other in perfect harmony in their heads...or they are ventriloquists and can sing without moving their mouths. (I always thought the fact that they weren't singing aloud odd as a child.)
Even though we know Cinderella is the epitome of fairy tale, movies such as these define love as moments of emotional bliss with another person. Often times, subconsciously we are longing for these fleeting moments, and when they flee, we're desperately trying to experience that emotional high all over again.
You don't hear the strains of "So this is love..." while you're putting fresh sheets on the bed at 1:00 a.m. for your exhausted husband who has conked out on the couch after a long day. You don't hear melodic birds twittering in the bathroom when you remind yourself you don't need to be right and apologize. You don't feel the butterflies of first love in your stomach when you spend time with the in-laws, even though no one is speaking in English.
Too bad. Maybe a little romantic music would make those things easier to do.
I doubt anyone would truly admit that their idea of true love is dependent upon fairy tales and Hollywood movies, but if we truly look deep down into the thoughts behind our actions, what ideal is guiding our decisions?
Even in myself, do I see myself yearning for something that seems authentic but is really just a moment of emotional bliss. Love is really defined by the moments when you would love to do the unloving thing but you do the loving one instead.
