Ever been in love? I have. It's beautiful, exciting, passionate, intoxicating. It's also painful, stressful, and very emotionally risky. Love is, after all, what makes this life liveable; and also what makes this life feel completely unbearable at times.
When I first heard of Marina Abramovic, an NYC based Serbian performance artist, I saw this video:
The story (from Wikipedia): " In 1988, after several years of tense relations, Abramović and Ulay decided to make a spiritual journey which would end their relationship. Each of them walked the Great Wall of China, starting from the two opposite ends and meeting in the middle. As Abramović described it: “That walk became a complete personal drama. Ulay started from the Gobi Desert and I from the Yellow Sea. After each of us walked 2500 km, we met in the middle and said good-bye." Abramović conceived this walk in a dream, and it provided what she thought was an appropriate, romantic ending to a relationship full of mysticism, energy, and attraction.”
I was transfixed. I cried a little. Then I smiled a little. So emotional and beautiful...I felt like I could understand exactly what these two were feeling. Anyone who's been in love probably can. Even though the two apparently met and spoke before this show, the emotional reactions here seem very real to me. Every now and then, this video pops into my mind and I have to go watch. I feel like it reminds us that, whatever happens in life, real love is forever. Even if you no longer have the actual in-person relationship, even if you knew it wasn't right or that the relationship had run it's course and you parted ways, the love you felt never really goes away. I think that's a good thing. It's good to have love in your heart. We all know the world needs more love...sweet love.
There are a million writings about love and relationships. I've read quite a few! But one in particular sticks out for me. I've often said that, to me, it pretty much sums up the meaning of life.
"Love anything that lives...a person, a pet, a plant...and it will die. Trust in anyone, and you may be hurt. Depend on anyone, and that one may let you down. The price of [love] is pain. If someone is determined not to risk pain, then such a person must do without many things--getting married, having children, the ecstasy of sex, the hope of ambition, friendship-- all that makes life alive, meaningful and significant. Move out or grow in any dimension and pain as well as joy will be your reward. A full life will be full of pain. But the only alternative is not to live fully, or not to live at all." --M. Scott Peck in The Road Less Traveled
May you all have a love-ly afternoon.
xo :)
Wow, I loved the last paragraph! Very true indeed. Love IS what keeps us going, whether it be romantic or platonic, superficial or spiritual. This is what makes it great...it is infinite. So even though it is painful at times, it is always there in form of a friend, family member, a pair of shoes, haha! We just have to seek it out :)
ReplyDeleteI agree Stephanie! I have felt some pretty intense love for shoes here and there haha. I highly recommend reading "The Road Less Traveled" since I remember reading on your blog that you're on a personal journey of your own. It is so very insightful in helping one figure out why we are the way we are and how to be better, grow better, and love better.
ReplyDeletexo, Monica
Thank you. I will def check it out :)
DeleteLove this post and love this video! I often think about this video as well. I cried the first time I watched it, and cried again just now as I watched it again. ;) I didn't realize they'd met and spoken before the exhibit, but it definitely seems very genuine and I, too, feel as if I can sense exactly what each of them is thinking and feeling. Love can be so hard. Losing someone, whether it be a friend, family member or boyfriend, can be extremely tough, but I'd personally rather know I've loved and maybe get hurt in the process than to have never loved at all. I've always wanted to read "The Road Less Traveled" as well, so I will definitely have to pick that up soon!
ReplyDeleteBetter to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all! :)
DeleteI heard about their story, i think he was in the crown in one of her performances and this is the first time they met after their split.
ReplyDeleteMiss Margaret Cruzemark
http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/
Hmmmm, that love thang :D Yeah it so complicated but there is nothing greater than..love. Beautiful post :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thefashionstirfry.com