If they say that time waits for no man, then what about love?
Does love wait?
Is there some sort of time period on it? A best before date?

I got thinking about it because I was watching a thing called love this evening, and although I’m a fickle female and the lead character is very easy on the eye, I loved it because the ideals and the script were just brilliant. Because they reminded me of some of the notions that I used to have about love, but that I managed to kind of lose somewhere along the way.

A while back I had been bemoaning the lack of some sort of identification mechanic for ‘the one’. We spend so much of our lives wondering about love, some of us too scared to take a chance and in doing so missing out on opportunities, some of us too scared not to take a chance and who end up compromising their dreams.

I don’t believe in settling. Why would you? If you're going to settle with someone who gives you unconditional love but there's no va va voom, you're wasting the chance for something better. Sheesh, get a friend or a pet. Or a hobby. Spend time with your folks. Likewise the thought of being with someone 24/7, who likes doing exactly the same things, with all the same people? Please, get me outta there.

I had always relied on the butterflies to help me to identify potential love situations, but recently I've noticed that they can strike me at any time, if I'm late for something important, if I have to stand up in front of a large crowd, or I've made a mistake, if I've let someone down. I mean sure, butterflies when accompanying romance are always a bonus, bu they're not the be all and end all.

And while I don’t believe that two people can love or like each other in equal amounts all of the time, I used to be a huge believer in the idea of a gut-wrenching, knock you off your feet love. One that may ebb and flow every now and then, but that ultimately shines throughout your lifetime. That makes you feel healthy and happy. That takes your breath away but also allows you to breathe easy. One that feels like an adventure but also makes you feel like you're home. One that can hit you BAM between the eyes right from the outset, or that can creep on you with time like a silent invader when you’re least expecting it.

A little while ago I realised that I had been making excuses for my inability to trust myself or anyone else with my heart.

But maybe now it really is time to start believing again.

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