Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Perfect Companion

Picture found on: weheartit.com
"It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive. It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it."  - Oriah Mountain Dreamer, The Invitation 
Generally, we all want a a person who has dreams, hopes and aspirations that they see themselves achieving; a reflection of their hope for something bigger than contentment. An indication that they are willing to love (or die) for something that is passionate to them. More importantly, we want a companion whom we can share our most intimate secrets with, no matter how painful or embarrassing they may be. This may entail reliving past events that may be too painful to acknowledge but is necessary, to be understood to the other person. And when we find that someone who understands us, a weight is lifted off our shoulders - how wonderful it is to have someone that can relate to your pain.

And I suppose that is what Oriah is referring to in her poem. I want the ability to share with someone, not only my successes, but my flaws and hidden secrets of my life too. Becoming obsessed and concerned with the frivolities of our lives does not aid us in any healthy manner. They eventually fade away over time and don't take on any greater meaning; whether it be age, career, status, politics etc. When it really comes to it, the things that do matter are held close to our hearts - the things that inevitably make us human, relatable and understood.

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