Levels Of ViolencE

Levels Of ViolencE

Rick Sanchez once said that love is merely a chemical reaction that compels animals to breed. An answer so rich in unambiguity it is nearly impossible to rebut, reflecting the dysphoric and uncompromising state of this feeling we associate so close to human behavior. For millennia, there has been vast interpretations of love and its true implications, with humans adopting and celebrating diverse perspectives as time continues to reduce once great civilizations to rubble.

Unpacking such a cryptic human condition alone is a herculean task not for the ill-prepared, so let us start small and work towards scaling the mighty love Everest.

“Love is blind”.

While I do agree with this argument, my stance differs drastically from its intended message. This quote, in its deliberate nature, paints a scene fished out from any cliché romance-soaked medium; if you love someone then you will be blinded by their faults and imperfections, and will be totally indifferent to their physical features. Perhaps such naïve outlooks were applicable in much simpler times when our primitive kind embarked on voyages across seemingly infinite seas, when love was free from corrupted minds and tormented mortals.

The once respected sensation has since been carried by tides of change, ebbing and flowing through a divergence of manifestations before finally washing up on shore as a weary, anthropomorphic cash cow. Take the music industry for example, the crux of mental disorders in my opinion. Artists continue to mass produce lazily written songs riddled with heartbreak and its correlated negativity, stirring up emotions of hatred and rage from teenagers with similar experiences. Following a cause to effect relationship, these individuals then feel the urge to publicize their newfound sorrow on social media through the most subtle of ways; either glorifying every crumb in a buffet of relationship struggles through rants and really degrading depictions, or opting for a black screen with microscopic text reading “I still love you and I’m sorry”.

And while I do find both attempts pathetic and brimmed with cringe, the former has to be my favorite – a touch of theater and drama does wonders to one’s monotonous life. So to all those that have blatantly shamed their past relationship counterparts on social media and have revealed supposedly private information to the public, know that you are absolute scum. And I thank you. 

A relationship should not make you happy, but happier. A common misconception that most of my teenage kind fail to comprehend before plunging headfirst into the crystal clear waters of affinity, polluting it with discord and distrust. The once flourishing mutual connection soon denatures into a dysfunctional wasteland of toxicity, demoralizing all who attempt to revive the now extinct habitat. Now, I am no relationship expert but I would dare argue that emotional independence, paradoxically, is instrumental in sustaining and propelling a healthy relationship. Being overly reliant on your counterpart for even a glimmer of happiness does not only pile on additional pressure for said party, but it also breeds unnecessary dependence for a primary feeling, which inevitably translates to overwhelming anxiety and suffocating insecurity. Shriveled hosts and famished parasites. Yummy.

Speaking of toxic relationships, know your self-worth and know when to walk away. Be transparent with your partner and confront them about any problems you are facing. Arguments are good and all, but basic human courtesy dictates that demeaning remarks, empty promises and ceaseless dishonesty are telltale signs that perhaps, and I may be going out on a limb here, they are just not good people. So why stay? Why choose to be bounded by shackles when you have the ability to simply walk away? Unless being mistreated is a personal kink, let go and move on.

Granted, being caught in the midst of suffocating toxicity does make it difficult for one to identify the blood red flags littered maliciously, and for such circumstances it will be unjust to fault such innocence. That said, if those around you continue to pester and condemn the state of your relationship, take what they say with a pinch of salt and actually reflect upon it. Disapproval comes with reason, and an open mind surfaces self-improvement and overall mental being.   

Also, just so we are on the topic, to those who have committed infidelity. Yeah, fuck you. 

People lament about not being able to find "The One", to which are then bombarded with suggestions to start going out on dates to expand their horizon. "There are plenty of fishes in the sea" I hate that. For me, it isn't about making more connections or seeking for potential partners to have the relationship status, but rather wanting to settle down with that one particular individual. There is nothing wrong with putting oneself out there, but personally I feel that it would be inequitable to the other party if one's mind is still focused on another person. Maybe I am just too conservative. A fool, really. 

But that is the human design. Mere fools destined to be enslaved by unknown forces and controlled by complicated emotions. What is love, and why must we fall in it? Why symbolize this desired emotion as a pit of some sort that we need to plummet into to achieve? Maybe Sanchez was right, and we are incapable of understanding love, or why people go to extreme lengths for it. But then again, it does not matter. Embrace it, and all its pleasures. Be swept away by its intoxicating current and continue venturing deeper to the heart of it all. 

Just remember to keep your eyes open before making the leap. 

- Molly