Fall in love

I didn’t say “be loved”. That requires too much compromise. If one changes one’s looks, personality and values, one can be loved by anyone.

Rather, I exhort you to love another human being. It may seem odd for me to tell you this. You may expect it to happen naturally, without deliberation. That is false. Modern society is anti-love. We’ve taken a microscope to everyone to bring out their flaws and shortcomings. It's far easier to find a reason not to love someone, than otherwise. 

Rejection requires only one reason. Love requires complete acceptance. It is hard work - the only kind of work that I find palatable.

Loving someone has great benefits. There is admiration, learning, attraction and something which, for the want of a better word, we call happiness. In loving someone, we become inspired to better ourselves in every way. We learn the truth worthlessness of material things. We celebrate being human. Loving is good for the soul.

Loving someone is therefore very important, and it is also important to choose the right person. Despite popular culture, love doesn’t happen by chance, at first sight, across a crowded dance floor. It grows slowly, sinking roots first before branching and blossoming. It is not a silly weed, but a mighty tree that weathers every storm.

You will find, that when you have someone to love, that the face is less important than the brain, and the body is less important than the heart.

You will also find that it is no great tragedy if your love is not reciprocated. You are not doing it to be loved back. Its value is to inspire you.

Finally, you will find that there is no half-measure when it comes to loving someone. You either don’t, or you do with every cell in your body, completely and utterly, without reservation or apology. It consumes you, and you are reborn, all the better for it.


- Adrian Tan, 2008 (via shannon)

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I stumbled upon this entry posted by Shannon a few months ago, I remember I read it once and loved it, I showed it to my friends, hoping it will inspire and move them like how it did to me. Today, I clicked into it and read again, very very glad that I did, I didn't quite remember the content anymore, human brain just couldn't remember so many things unless you remind the brain frequently enough. I want to keep this article with me somewhere, that I can always read to remind myself, so it comes to my blog. 


Above is only a tiny part of the entire speech, it's very true that it's far easier to find a reason not to love someone, than otherwise. Also, I find the idea of loving people without expecting to be loved back rather.. liberating, if you really do it. "Its value is to inspire you."