Men and Women Can't Be Friends

Unbelievably, one of my good friends hasn't seen 'When Harry Met Sally'. This is for him, and my Dad since it's his favourite film. 

The two clips below show some of my favourite quotes/unnervingly true observations from Harry.

Part 1 is right at the beginning of the film and part 2 is set several years later, after Harry and Sally bump into each other at the airport for the first time since their trip to New York in part 1. 

Eugh it's just such a good film! Now there are so many more clips I want to add on but I'm restraining myself. 

Disney Wisdom

Pic from faithtrustdisney

Pic from faithtrustdisney

Soul Mates

“A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. A soul mate’s purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, and make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert

I first came across that quote about a year ago and it got me thinking. As someone who thinks too much it had already dawned on me once or twice that the person I am in love with is probably not my soul mate. No offence at all to him though, I have never been happier in my life. We are just two completely different people who miraculously balance each other out, but I wouldn't call us soul mates. As someone who is also a bit of a romantic it might of been easy for me to start wondering but what if there is such a thing as soul mates? Even worse what if my soul mate is someone else? Even worse than that, what if I know who that person is? 
After careful consideration and with the help of the above wise words I put that minor/potentially major issue to rest. I'm taking the above quote to heart, it's nice to read something and go wow, that actually makes sense. Quite a while ago now, I got heart broken, shaken all about, and came out of it ever so slightly stronger with some life lessons learned. And what do you know it wasn't the end of the world after all? I got up, brushed myself off and fell in love all over again even deeper than before. I was almost going to say something patronising like 'love is hard when you're young' but that would diminish how strongly I felt, or make it sound like it gets any easier, both would be lies. I suppose the point I'm making in a very round about (you'd think I was trying to pad out a 5000 word essay) way is that if I do believe in soul mates it's by the above definition, and thankfully I've been there, done that. My wise Mum always says 'People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.' The tricky part is figuring out who's meant for which. 

Well Said Bob

Quote: Pride and Prejudice

"I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."

- Elizabeth about Mark Darcy, Chapter 5

Love is a Temporary Madness.

They always say “write what you know”, so bare with me, but today is about love. I’m lucky, at the young age of 21 I am aware that I might not know love (does anybody really?) but I’m sure I’ve seen it.

I feel a bit like I’m bragging, but here’s where I get really lucky. I actually (touch wood) have 2 sets of Grandparents. On my Mum’s side there’s Marian and Dennis (Nana & Grandpa) and on my Dad’s there’s Pam and Keith (Granny and Grandpa). AND to top it all of the 4 of them are best friends! Call me crazy but I think that’s pretty special.

Anyway, back in March on a beautiful day at Bradford Golf Club we all got together to celebrate Marian & Dennis’ Golden Wedding Anniversary. 50 years! Incredible. My poor Mum was very ill at the time (viral labrynthitis) and her sister made a speech on their behalf. My sister Georgia said grace, my cousin made a toast, and I said this…

‘Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. You have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from your branches you’ll find that you are one tree and not two.’ - St Augustine

Honestly they fight like cat and dog, drive each other up the wall and throughout those 50 years there’s been drama, loss, betrayal and hurt. But through all that, they stuck by each other to build a life together. And now in the later years of that life they are surrounded by a happy family. In all honesty it’s something I struggle with, but all my grandparents give me hope that yes, it does happen. Some loves do last forever. It might not always be easy or glamorous or exciting but if you care enough for each other you can get through anything, and what’s more, that it’s worth it. I’m just grateful that I have these wonderful people in my life;  if in 50 years time I have half of what they have I’ll definitely pinch myself once or twice to check I'm not dreaming.

Dennis & Marian, Pam & Keith - Florida 1995