#49: Paperclips

It seems to me that “they” don’t make romantic comedies anymore. Is this true?

Do we not want such things? I see much evidence to be positive day to day but if we have turned our backs on romantic comedies such that movie makers can’t make some money, well, egads!

One of my favorite scenes in a movie is the start of "Love, Actually"…   but even better is real world Grand Central when I see couples coming together with a glow of just loving being with one another…  although it may be reasonable to consider that a poignant Hugh Grant voice over (as in "Love, Actually”) might enhance the real life experience.  I see couples.  My heart glows.   It isn’t just romantic couples!   It might be old friends meeting up with joy in their eyes.   Nothing better out there.

I think that I think all this thinking because maybe in those moments “self” vanishes.  

Maybe in those moments we just “lose our selfs”.  I love when I lose my “self” and get totally lost in the fun and playing with others all through the day that is possible :)

I once heard that a working definition for “being in love” (romantic or far far far wider!) was “being without ego”…   Ego being that THING that reinforces “self” and “separates”…    Thanks Amanda for this great story about Chad!

pip

Amanda Posa       amandaposaj@gmail.com 

Paperclips 

My sister took my awesome blender with her to her apartment in NYC while I was at college last year. She didn’t ask me if she could borrow it in the first place so I didn’t know she had it at all. The plan of leaving me out of the know would have worked out just fine for her had she not totally forgotten it under the train seat coming back from Manhattan. 

I recently told that disappointing occurrence to my boyfriend Chad. 

“Well, it sucks because I loved using it this past summer for smoothies and green drinks. And I didn’t bring it back with me to Florida-I mean I can only fit so much in a checked luggage... wonder if she’ll ever replace it... it’s been about a year so I think I’m gonna go with no.” *enter more complaining* 

And then last week, Chad, the Prince Charming he is, showed up at my door surprising me with a brand new Magic Bullet blender. Not for an anniversary or anything, but simply because I said that morning I had the “Sunday Scarries” and was stressed.  

But then after he put the large box down on the table, he pulled something else out of his pocket. 

It was a pack of paper clips.

He must’ve noticed me scrambling for one the other day as I made a quiet remark under my breath, “Tons of my assignments require these…How don’t I have any…” 

He had noticed that minor conflict of mine. And that really touched my heart. And in a way, his conscious awareness for the littlest thing was slightly more magical than The Magic Bullet itself. 

Often times. I think it’s the tiny paper clips that hold love together the most. 

Amanda's first-person bio:

I am currently in my third year at the University of Florida. I am studying Education and Sustainability Studies as I have a deep passion for both teaching children and for caring for the environment. I seek work, people, and environments that align with my core values of empathy, compassion, and conscientiousness. My biggest joy is when I can be of sincere help to someone or something that needs me. Whether that means putting in great efforts to go green, supporting the earth and its resources, or opening my ears to listen and arms to hug someone who needs support, I always find my motivation when I see betterment due in part by my actions.