The Best Love Stories

I did this little photo session with Love stories in mind, but along the way to writing it, a recent hit song hijacked my topic a little.  Maybe I'm behind the times, (at least I'm consistent on that point), but I just heard Miley Cyrus's new song, Flowers.  It's catchy, like many of her songs, and timely given it's about love and just in time for Valentine's Day, so I can see why it's topping the charts and all over social media videos.  Tis the season of love, after all.  Except love is exactly where the song falls short.  It's about a woman whose relationship ended and she feels sad, but then realizes that the greatest love she could ever have is with...herself?  Ew.  What a pathetic attempt to legitimize loneliness and self-absorption.

The end of a marriage or other committed relationship, in other words, a broken heart, is truly one of the most devastating things a person can experience.  Physically, psychologically, emotionally, the damage is extensive, and sometimes, we need to take time for ourselves to heal.  But we must never confuse egotism for healing or self absorption for love.  While this song may have just enough of a catchy tune to keep in on the charts for a while, it will ultimately fade away because it misses the entire meaning of love.  Flowers is all about the self, and if I may quote the greatest love story ever told, "Love is not self seeking."

As much as I'd like to think people wouldn't latch on to a message like Flowers, I've seen a rather unfortunate trend the last few years of single women on social media bragging about making their Valentine's Day all about themselves since they aren't in a romantic relationship.  Ok, ok, so you aren't in love and it's Valentine's Day.  That sucks and it's fine to make one all about yourself. But, all of them until (if?) you do meet someone to share your life with?  Sounds like the very best recipe for loneliness and an empty life to me.

The best love stories aren't about one person loving themselves.  I can't think of a single story worth reading with that plotline.  Rather, the very best stories are the ones where people love others more than themselves.  If you've had your heart broken, take some time to take care of yourself and heal, but then look outside yourself and your pain to find hope and love.  Love is the kind of thing that only grows the more you give it away.

Not only that, but when it comes to finding someone to share your life with, keep in mind that no one in the dating scene is looking for someone who is all about themselves, who actually says "I can buy myself flowers, have long talks with myself, and love myself better than you ever could."  Would you want to be with someone like that?  People on the hunt for their soulmate want someone who is kind and cares for others, who not only appreciates thoughtful gestures, but also makes a few of them too.

As someone who has had her heart broken and spent more than her fair share of Valentine's Days all alone and/or lonely, take my advice, the very best kind of love is the kind you give to others, expecting nothing in return.  Write your own love story, make it all about how much you gave, not how much you got and you cannot help but have the happiest of lives with the happiest of endings.

Shopping Info: Crimson Beach Day Dress from Selkie, Loafers from SheIn