Is Love Really Blind?

"Love is Blind."

I'm sure most of you at one time or another has heard the above quote, but have you ever stopped and really though about it. Have you ever dissected it and really questioned it's meaning?

I heard this quote used earlier this week. One girl asked another girl, "How can she like that guy? He is bad news." to which the other girl replied, " You know what they say, 'Love is blind', she cant see him for who he really is."

The more I thought about this, the more I began to disagree with the logic behind the statement. When you love someone (and I'm not talking about just romantic love here, I'm talking about love for a spouse, a best friend, a cousin, a coworker, or anybody you come into contact with), do you really become blind?

Let's start by defining the 2 main words that make up the quote. I know this may seem silly but it is crucial to where I am going with my thought process.

1. Love: "strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties" and "unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another
2. Blind: "Sightless"

So basically what the quote is saying is: When you have a strong affection for someone and are genuinely concerned for their good, you become sightless.

Imagine someone you claim to love...Are you imagining? OK now list in you head some of their flaws, imperfections, and annoying quirks...you got it? I got a few, so obviously my love for this person isn't completely "blind".

You can see the flaws and imperfections, but does do that make your love for that person any weaker? If it is a genuine love it shouldn't.

You willing CHOSE to say, " You know what. Yes. You have flaws. Yes. You have imperfections. Yes. Sometime you annoy the crap out of me. and Yes. Some times the decisions you make make me want to slap you across the face and shout 'What in the world are you thinking!?!', but none of that matters and none of that is going to make me leave you because I am loyal to you, I am concerned for your good and well being, and I LOVE you and nothing can change that."

But why if we see the bad, do we decide to close our eyes to it and ignore it. Why do we continue to love this person. I believe love is not only not blind, but love can SEE more than others can see.

Like I said in my first post, we all wear some type of mask. I also believe along those same lines that we all build up walls, and we all build up walls for different reasons. One of my favorite quotes about walls goes a little something like this...Some people build up walls not to keep people out but to see who cares enough to break them down.

When people meet you, they are only going to be able see what you decide to show them. They are going to see that rough, tough, jerk of a person you pretend to be.
But as you get closer to each other and begin to talk more, they will begin to chip away at the facade you present the world, and they will begin to see all the good qualities you have inside. They will learn the reasons you do the things you do, and why you make the decisions you make. They will begin to understand the real you and see you more complete. (Like a puzzle. If there are just a few pieces you may not see the point, but as you fit more and more pieces together you will see it all works together to make a beautiful picture.)

And even though they see the flaws, the imperfections, and the quirks...they also see your tender heart, sense of humor, courage, and good intentions.

Reminds me of the song by Tim McGraw, "Better than I used to be".
At one point in the song he says "Just put some faith in me, and someday you'll see there's a diamond under all this dust." WOW! that's all I can say...

You may see some one as bad news or not the greatest to be around, but before you make that judgment take time to get to know them. Invest in them and try to get to the real heart of them. you just might be surprised :)

• That pompous egotistical jerk could be the most kind-hearted and loyal fellow you could ever meet, hiding behind his facade because he had been hurt before.
  
• That woman who seems to just let everyone walk all over her and use her, could be afraid of being left by those she cares about and she loves them to much to see them go
• That guy that is ALWAYS making what you see as stupid decisions, do you know why he makes them...maybe it's the only thing he can do

So when you encounter these people, close one eye to the negative and open you whole heart to the positive. You never know, under the dust there just may be a beautiful diamond that you might not have otherwise come across :)

“Love is not blind; it simply enables one to see things others fail to see.”

“Love isn't finding a perfect person. It's seeing an imperfect person perfectly.”

Live...Laugh...Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3