Photo by cottonbro studio
Love is the most divine emotion ever to exist. It’s metaphorically associated with everything beautiful. Love is one of the strongest motivators, pushing men to do things they would never have thought they could do. Yet, despite its beauty, expressing love can be one of the most challenging things to do.
“Write to your someone somewhere
As a way to show you always care.
Then reach out in thought form too
As a way to bolster your connection.
I was thinking and ask that you do too.”
– Brion K. Hanks
This impactful and beautiful excerpt is taken from poetry for family and friends entitled I Was Thinking, written by Brion K. Hanks. It’s a meaningful poem conveying thoughts of love and the vulnerability people experience seeing the world through rose-colored lenses.
Without spelling it out, Mr. Hanks writes a wake-up call, reminding people to always carry with them the people they love and treasure their memories and existence in unique ways. While loving can be frightening, as if they’re putting themselves on the frontline, defenseless against pain, I Was Thinking reminds people how vital embracing and expressing love is before it’s too late. Instead of making people question their worth and the value behind their existence, making them feel loved is crucial.
The Dance Around Expressing Love
Reading through Brion’s poetry, one may claim the lesson conveyed is simple. But it’s established that expressing love is easier said than done.
Nowadays, people can’t confidently claim and comprehend what others feel for them because of this lack of sincere and straightforward declaration. Instead of the self-assurance that another person feels deeply for them, they’re left second-guessing and calculating what specific actions and efforts mean. Perhaps, it’s a subconscious means of protecting themselves from getting hurt that they omit expressing love, taking the first step of closing themselves off before others may even leave or reject them.
People can’t help but build walls around themselves to avoid baring their vulnerabilities. There’s some sense of weakness attached to being vulnerable that people have unconsciously tended to avoid. Instead of fully embracing expressiveness and frankly conveying their emotions, people only leave hints and subtle gestures, hoping the other fathoms and reciprocates their feelings.
But more often than not, there’s no way to ascertain what another feels without asking.
Love as Risky Business
For love to be a safe connection, a mutual understanding between people and the acknowledgment that they reciprocate the emotion must exist. If the feeling ends up unrequited, it can still be considered love, only that it becomes more painful than beautiful. Love can also be considered a dance between people. For it to be beautiful, there must be a common recognition and perception of what all parties involved should do and contribute to maintaining the connection afloat.
The uncertainty of reciprocation feeds people’s hesitation to express their feelings. This is what makes vulnerability frightening. Realizing they’re the only ones feeling deeply for one another can be incredibly isolating. Hence, people swallow these important words instead of expressing love until they can’t feel it anymore. Many might think they won’t expect anything in return, believing they have too much love to give. But this can be emptying. People show love with the unconscious expectation of receiving it back, or it may become unbearably painful.
Rejection is scary. It’s painful. But the elimination of expression and love is nearly the same agony.
Dropping the Fear of Expressing Love
Love is one of the most beautiful emotions ever to exist. But unexpressed love, a love nobody knows about, is a waste of beauty. When people look at their children, families, or special people, they should be reminded of how freeing and glorious it is to be in love. While it’s frightening baring vulnerabilities and express love, nobody dies from regret and rejection. However, people can spend sleepless nights thinking of the what-ifs from the love that’s never expressed.
“I love you” is one of the essential words in the world. Loving someone and expressing this love is a gift not everyone can receive. Hence, if there’s an opportunity to express it, people shouldn’t think twice about grabbing it. From Brion K. Hanks’ poem, “You matter; I matter; we all matter most.” Whether or not one receives reciprocity, let people know they matter and weigh some significance in one’s life.
If you want to be enlightened by the beautiful proses and know more about the healing power of poetry, please visit:
https://brionkhanks-poetry.com/new-poems-brion-k-hanks.html
