Valentine's Day, an annual tribute to love, invites us to pause and reflect on the deeper connections that touch our hearts. It’s a moment to honor our loved ones and the essence of love itself, which we often take for granted. But is love truly effortless? In the shadow of the seemingly effortless romance portrayed in movies, lies the reality of the hard work required to make a relationship flourish.
Our perception of romance is often colored by the drama and poetry of the silver screen, where love unfolds effortlessly and with perfect timing. But life, unlike the scripts written for the big screen, has its own script with unexpected twists and turns. Just as stories tell us about women taking the initiative in love, or men making romantic gestures, it is the courage to deviate from the beaten path that enriches our relationships.
However, the true essence of love and relationships is not always reflected on the big screen. The exaggerated expectations, especially those inspired by more mature genres, can place harmful pressure on real relationships, straining a couple's mental well-being. The truth is that Valentine’s Day, and every day we spend with our loved ones, is a moment to celebrate the reality of our love—the love that may not follow the storyline we envisioned in our youth but has shaped and supported us over the years. True love, stripped of fiction’s filters, is a balance of giving and receiving, of growing and flourishing together. It’s a dynamic process where we learn, laugh, and sometimes stumble. The films that inspire us only offer a glimpse into the multifaceted reality where our love stories unfold.
In every relationship, maintaining a healthy balance is essential for our well-being. Love should nourish, not exhaust; support, not dominate. It’s about creating a space together where we can be ourselves and thrive, and where the connection makes us both stronger.
As we write our own love stories, it's good to remember that 'happily ever after' is often the last chapter, not the beginning. The chapters leading up to it are filled with challenges, growth, and yes, hard work. It is this work that lays the foundation for a relationship that enables us to face the future together, happy and mentally healthy. So this Valentine’s Day, let’s celebrate with an appreciation for the path we’ve traveled and a heart full of hope for the journey ahead—a journey we choose to walk together, in the spirit of true love that grows with every shared experience and every obstacle overcome, towards a future where we live ‘happily ever after’ together, in good mental health.
Published by:
Ben Gabriston