I just revisited a great story called Message in a Bottle, written by best-selling author Nicholas Sparks. Although it is essentially a romance drama, it does not have the happy ending we yearn for in a romantic story. This would be a let-down for some readers, because we cling tenaciously to the idea of happy endings, particularly in love.

The whole idea of the happy ending ties into my last post, Courage to Love. So if indeed love does not always work out in the way we hope for, why have courage to love at all?

The idea of the classic happy ending is very superficial and one-dimensional within the context of our infinite souls. The happy ending suggests a destination in this particular life, a utopian ideal of what love “should be”, rather than what it is.

What it IS is our opportunity to learn from each other. In the case of Message in a Bottle, there is so obvious learning and growth for the two main characters, Theresa and Garrett. Their ability to love better and deeper expands. For any reader or viewer (it is a movie too) who is able to let go of their need for the cliché happy ending, it is an immensely satisfying story.

There are many types of love, not just the ones with romantic partners. Check out this article for more on that: The Ancient Greeks’ 6 Words for Love (And Why Knowing Them Can Change Your Life)

What loves have you encountered in your life and what did you learn from them? (This is very personal, so I’m not fishing for comments.) The point of the question is, that when we realize the beauty, depth, and learning with each love encounter and are able to heal the wounds associated with an “unhappy ending”, we grow and have the courage to invite more love in.

Within the context of our infinite selves, this could be deemed as “happy without end”.

Myth of Happy Endings © Susan L Hart 2021 | Friendly comments welcome | Photo courtesy Nietjuh, Pixabay

How much love you have in your life, how much you express, it is all up to you. The wonderful thing about love is, the more you give it, the more it expands and comes right back to you.

Have the courage to love, in all kinds of ways, in every direction. Many of our most important life lessons are around love. Our hearts crave to love and be loved.

There are many wonderful quotes about love by the poet Rumi, here are just a few:

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ~ Rumi

“Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.” ~ Rumi

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.” ~ Rumi

“This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.” ~ Rumi

“Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.” ~ Rumi

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” ~ Rumi

“Reason is powerless in the expression of Love.” ~ Rumi

“Gamble everything for love, if you’re a true human being.” ~ Rumi

“Love calls – everywhere and always.
We’re sky bound.
Are you coming?”
~ Rumi

“Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces.” ~ Rumi

© Susan L Hart 2020 |  Friendly comments welcome | Photo courtesy DreamLens Production, Pexels and 3194556, Pixabay

This time of COVID may go down in history as the “The Great Reveal”. The pressure cooker of 8 billion people focusing on their mortality has caused many of our life values to bubble to the surface for examination.

One of those is “caring”. My observation is that humans in survival mode often tend towards an “every man for himself” way of looking at things. I’ve felt appalled to hear some people state that it was okay with them that people were losing their businesses, as long as they themselves were safe.

This is not meant as a commentary about whether certain restrictions were right or wrong. Rather, I found the callousness with which it was stated disturbing.

Where is the caring? The success of the human race will (I believe) depend upon the degree we can feel compassion for and help our fellow human beings.

Maybe we need to organize a worldwide reading day, all of it comprised of some good children’s books, so we can review some core life values. Note that the first three “caring” quotes below are from two famous children’s authors:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
~ Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.”
~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.”
~ Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

“We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“If you care about something you have to protect it – If you’re lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”
~ John Irving

“Many people need desperately to receive this message: ‘I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.”
~ Kurt Vonnegut

Where’s the Caring? © Susan L Hart 2021 | Friendly comments welcome | Photos courtesy nohaggerty and StockSnap