To fall is to suddenly, unexpectedly drop to a lower position, generally as a result of the ever present & very real pull of gravity. Most occurrances of falling are followed immediately by some measure of embarassment and a strong desire to regain the former position of self control & decorum. The last guy who fell for me provided evidence to support the observation.
What I would prefer, and surrendered the opportunity to explain to him, is a man who knows who he his and who he wants to partner with – a man who walks step after step into a committed relationship with his eyes wide open and every confidence that he can work through any situation with his chosen companion, for the rest of their natural lives. Of course, I’m looking for the man whose chosen companion is me…
The idea that love is something people fall into and out of has destroyed a few generations of ‘westerners’. Once upon a time, love was understood to be something that grows between two people committed to work together, knowing that their very survival depended on the contributions of both. Would I take the romance out of dating and marriage? Absolutely Not! But, it would be nice to place a bit more of the responsibility back onto the parties involved and less on the influence of the circumstances around them. Dry spells happen in any long-term endeavor, chaos enters every life from time to time, and we are incredibly skilled at misunderstanding one another. Those who look back from a pleasant 50+ anniversary remember the times they stayed committed to their choice, against all odds, and conquered the dry spells, chaos, and misunderstandings.
At any rate, as romantic and lovely as the sentiment one is trying to express may be, please don’t ‘fall for me’. I prefer to know that you have your full wits about you and are making a carefully evaluated decision, every upright step of the way. And though I may get a bit starry-eyed & weak-kneed at the prospect of finally finding my companion, I will also be making thoughtful decisions based on a variety of not-so-romantic factors.
Worth Watching:
- ‘The Story of Us’ – 1999 – Bruce Willis & Michelle Pfeiffer
- ‘Fireproof’ – 2008 – Kirk Cameron & Erin Bethea