This is life. Go live it! ...And take off that armor!

I can not imagine living through the life and not having a great love even in your memories. For me, as a Russian, it is easy to except pain in love. IN our culture their no love without pain and we see beauty in it. Completely different, isn't it?

I always was very sad and mad when I saw people who are afraid to fall in love because they had a bad experience before. Those people are too weak and boring for me.

About Nietzsche:  What does not kill you, but makes you suffer, will change you. And you can became stronger and better, or if you can not understand it and go through it, than you will become very weak.

Great post Mirela. Very thought provoking..I needed this today..there are too many things that we take for granted. Take time to stop and smell the roses and live life to its fullest.

Mirela, I am addicted to your posts!  We cant go through life in a box, we need to experience it all, with out pain there cant be love, how would you know the difference if you did not have both experiences?  We are the sum total of our experiences... I would not change anything, even though I did make a few (ok, probalby more than a few) mistakes...  but everything we do builds us into what we are today.... and frankly, I Like ME!

Mirela,

You are a hopeless romantic that still believes, even despite, having been seemingly wounded.  That is a wonderful and beautiful thing. 

Although I must agree with the basic premise that "pain builds character," I worry, as you have expressed, that with pain there may come a certain hardness, or an unwillingness to allow one's self to be so utterly vulnerable again.  

Its frightening to reconcile that in order to be granted the full measure of the sweetest joy that comes with love, what is required is the actual lowering of all defenses by a total surrender of the heart.

 I lay here before you, my trust, my hope, my life and my heart
That you may take it and have it held close to you
That which grows so sweet within me 

I give to you all of mine which is dear, my sweetest joy, my deepest sorrow

I see you were up late again. 

Rest OK?

That's very interesting what you said about Nietzsche... my wife once said, "that which doesn't kill me- only almost kills me." ... and I have to agree. It's not like we seek punishment. However, all too often we overthink our feelings- keeping us from the upside of life or... we wear our negative experiences like some sort of magical sackcloth and give these momentary setbacks far more weight than they merit. One of the best phrases I've heard is "the best way around is through." If something brings us fear we should face it... timidity? challenge it. love? embrace it. Those things that bring the most joy may have their occaisional thorn- but they tend to be worth it. Once again, very good post Mirella- you always have such great topics.

M I R E L A !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, this is a great post. This is BY FAR your best (and maybe one of the best I've read on AR). Of course opinions vary, but I guess it's all about the message, the messenger, the messengee and timing.

Reading THIS message, coming from YOU, at this particular TIME, means so much to ME.

Thanks, pal, and...

...Keep Writing!

Me, Sweet???  :) 

Awwww Shucks! 

for some reason you have me staring at the computer screen, smiling, at a loss for words... You just need to throw in Honest and smitten into the mix!

I blame my loss for words on that espresso martini I had just before logging on

lol

Hi Mirela... that's what I most admire about you from reading your posts... you seem to run out and embrace life in a carefree and exposed way that leaves you open to so many things.  I have never been able to be that open to emotions and as a result I always wonder what things I have missed out on as a result.  Don't get me wrong, I am happy and I love life, but I often wonder if it could be even better if I just let my guard down.

Have you read Kahlil Gibran's THE PROPHET???   He speaks beautifully of love and love's pain.  Here are but a few of the lines from the Prophet's comments on love....  "When love beckons to you, you follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep.  And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.  And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.  For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you"...  It continues from there, but I think the lines are relevant.  Love is risky business, but to close yourself off from it leaves you without the possibility of the bliss that an open heart can experience.  Walking around without armor is tough, but soooo worth it!

I have never been a big fan of the foo foo drink... but an espresso martini... mmmmm.

Martini glass with dark chocolate shavings and brown sugar on the rim, in the glass a shot of espresso, Kahlua, vanilla vodka, chocolate liquor....  I think you should try it!