I BELIEVE IN LOVE

As a young boy growing up in the township, from lower primary, through HP, right to high school, I have learned one huge lesson when it comes to the matters of the heart. Loving someone doesn't always call for a romantic relationship. This lesson didn't drop like a bomb in my mind; I came to realize it through the humiliation my heart went through as I fell for one girl to the next.

I was doing grade three when I first met a woman I would have loved calling my wife. I wrote her love letters and she returned them. I was too young to have a dream back then, so she was my fantasy. I use to think about her every night when I go to bed and in the morning when I woke. I knew very little about God back then, but I took time to pray for her. I loved with an innocent heart, the nature of love that's not related to knowledge, wealth, or achievements. I loved that young woman simply because I did, not because I knew why.

Maturity began the day I realize I wasn't really going to marry that young lady. Some might say that's when reality stroke. I'd like to think that's when the innocent of young love got contaminated. According to the English dictionary, to contaminate is to make (something) dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it.

The moment we allow external factors like age, achievements, level of education, faith, etc. to determine whether we want to be with someone or not, that's the moment we lose the purity of love. Thinking of the very 1st person we ever fell in love with as kids, we all can determine where we lost the love we all seem not to believe in.

We have been made to believe that the ultimate expression of love toward someone is marrying them. I can't agree any less to that. However we need to approach love as a concept that's beyond just romance but as a way of relating to the people around us, and that's the whole point I'm trying to make here. While this sounds much easier in theory, it is often hard in practise, particularly when a guy loves women outside of a relationship.

I personally have loved women, lots of them. Some of my good friends I've been with at crucial stages in my life were women. I'm talking about the year I did my grade 11 and matric, my 2nd year at varsity, my 1st year at College after I dropped out at varsity. Most of my friendships were mistaken as affairs, which didn't bother me so much.

Having had plentiful female friends, I learn to understand and appreciate women, love them for who they are, envision the worse, hope for the best, and most of all; settle for what's on offer without a spark of dissatisfaction.

I believe in love, all sorts of love. I love love and I love loving it. It's such an awesome feeling I'd love to share with the rest of the world. I love the way it's confuse and fascinate people. I find pleasure in all love-related concepts, and I'd like the world to know that.