The Love Cynic

I've mentioned before that I can be a little bit of a cynic when it comes to happily ever after or true love. It isn't that I don't believe it exists. I do believe it exists, I've just seen a lot of examples where it doesn't work out. When I say I've seen a lot, I mean a lot.

I'm in a relationship right now and my boyfriend is actually in the Navy so it has been a few months since we've seen each other. The distance has been difficult but since he got out of basic and we can text and talk on the phone again things have been looking up. Despite our struggles, and we have had many, I believe we are finally at a good place in our lives together. I think we've reached this happy place finally from growing up. It's difficult to know what you want when you are confined by high school, college or are stuck in a holding pattern after graduation. What I'm saying is, I'm very happy right now.

I wrote this post, not to spew about my happiness, because honestly no one wants to read about that, but because every time I hear a song on the radio, yes we're talking about country again, that tells a love story I always kind of laugh about it. I used to snap every time I heard the ones that tell an adorable story about how two people met. They're like love at first sight kinds of tales where things just somehow fell into place for these people. I don't think this really ever happens to people so it used to make me mad, and almost jealous.

I've started to get over this. Some people are lucky enough to actually have good stories about how they met. Others just met on blind dates, online or through friends. Those aren't interesting stories though. But why was I so upset by hearing these stories? Because I think everyone should be happy like the people in the songs. I want lyrics to come true for every one and I know this is never going to be the case. You might be like me, absolutely hating the cutesy love stories because of jealousy or just because you are too much of a realist. In that case, I feel you. It's OK to be that person. But at the same time, take in the story and learn to see it as you would a Disney fairy tale. Unattainable, totally unrealistic, but nonetheless sweet and inspiring.

If you only listen to one, listen to Austin. It's sad at first, but always gives me chills because of how devoted the man is. And if you watch the video, forgive Blake's hair, he looks ridiculous. Don't let that distract you from the beauty of the story.

Three of the best love story songs

Austin - Blake Shelton
Good Directions - Billy Currington
She Said Yes - Brad Paisley

PS. Sorry I didn't include the appropriately named song Love Story by T Swift. It's Romeo and Juliet without the dying. I don't find this to be inspirational in any way. Not that you need to die for that story to mean something but, you know what I mean.

No one should marry for love

I thoroughly disagree with this statement, but if you think about the facts, it makes a sad kind of sense. According to a Huffington Post article, no one should actually marry purely for love. They even advice you to ask your fiance why they want to marry you. If the answer is "Because I love you" you should tell them that isn't good enough.

Personally, I find that to be the exact answer people want to hear, along with "Because you're beautiful, funny, talented, interesting and kind," but I guess I'm just easy-going. The new statistics actually show people are getting divorced because they fell out of love with each other as opposed to something like infidelity or abuse. So, maybe they are on to something. And who knows when you might fall out of love and want to end your marriage/relationship. I mean, look at Kim Kardashian's 72-day marriage. It's embarrassing, but not uncommon.

What I mean is, people get divorced for "irreconcilable differences" all the time. Kardashian is a bad example since her wedding itself could have pulled a third-world country from the depths of poverty, but that's a different story.

I believe in love. It's hard, and it hurts and sometimes you wish there was no such thing, but overall history wouldn't be the same, and our lives wouldn't be nearly as interesting. Maybe we can envy those that don't feel anything, and at some point we all want a procedure that can just erase all memory of a former love a la Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. But can anyone really say that love is dead and gone? Or that we should only marry for money, stability, or children? I may be cynical at times, but when love is good, there's absolutely nothing comparable.

A Love Song For Every Phase of Love

(Just listen to the lyrics or look them up if it's a genre you hate, I promise you'll agree)

The unrequited love - Sparks Fly - Taylor Swift

The one you love from a distance - As She's Walking Away - Zac Brown Band

The one you can't get over - I Still Ain't Over You - Augustana

The new love - Told Them All About You - Cindy Woolf

The match made in heaven - The Way I Am - Ingrid Miachelson

The first dance as a married couple - God Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts

The one you'd lay down your life for - I'll Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie

The one you screwed up - Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

The one who just can't grasp love - I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers