Unrequited Love
Humans are social beings blessed with the ability to think, analyse, memorise and communicate with ease. And that’s what sets us apart from other living organisms as well. We tend to see multiple dimensions and perspectives of the same scenario and at times those which are totally contrary to one another. However, one thing that’s particularly universal is the act of survivorship bias. By definition, a term used to define the logical error of concentrating solely on the people or things that made it past some selection procedure while completely overlooking those who did not.
Now, what would survivorship bias have anything to do with the title you ask? Well, as specified earlier, humans have this innate instinct to overestimate their chances at something, get their hopes dangerously high, to be overly optimistic about something that’s pretty sure to go spiraling down to shit. This instinct is awakened whenever you start listening to the heart instead of the brain. In other words, when you fall in love. And then you start to get desperate over it, pursuing it even if there is zero chance (mathematically speaking) of seeing it through, putting in a lot of effort, investing a heck lot of time, all eventually in vain. So, is this a much more extreme version of survivorship bias? Or is it a totally different entity altogether? Who knows!
Normally, what everyone experiences the most is infatuation rather than love which may or may not work out in the end. What distinguishes love from this so-called infatuation? Is there a fine line of separation between them? Or are they separated by an ambiguous boundary that is yet to be mapped? Not all questions necessarily have pinpoint answers in this world, but yeah, everything takes a turn for the good or bad. The realisation of one being in true love with another may either come with time, experience, or even day-to-day interactions. It’s not a hard and fast rule and may vary with each person.
So, what does it feel to fall for somebody? Is it special? Is it worth the risk of listening to your instincts? Is it worth the effort? Well, as a matter of fact, it does feel divine, crazy, clumsy, and happy. Like entering unchartered territory, it has its own surprise elements and a fair share of difficulties associated with them. I don’t know how to express that emotion in proper words. You feel happy just being around them even if not a word is uttered. The time appears to go at lightning speed, every hour starts to feel like mere seconds. You start to be so attentive to the surroundings, your looks, and even your behavior while around him/her and it usually ends up making you look like an idiot as well. Stammering and sweaty hands become a ghastly unwelcomed companion that won’t leave you alone. The heart starts to regularly overlook the normal rhythm it’s supposed to be keeping.
However, the funny thing about life is that one may not be entitled to everything we wish for, and it is also applicable to the reciprocation of affection from someone you love as well. That’s unrequited love- one that keeps haunting you, even as you struggle to get over it. You’ll be immensely pained with the knowledge of the truth, often at times ignoring it by harboring hope and expectations. It will start to affect the thinking process and mental health, at times stripping off even the slightest intent to work. The immense amount of helplessness turns into a feeling of worthlessness, that eventually evolves into a form of self-doubt and insecurity. You feel like a void, an emotionless being slowly sinking into the dark realm of depression. And all you’d wish for is silence and the abeyance of responsibilities.
To have friends who could sense even the subtle change of your character is truly what makes one lucky. They bug you with questions, prolong the conversation until the smiling facade you’ve been keeping up shatters into dust, turning you into a whimpering crybaby exploding with emotions. They lend their time, ears, and mind entirely to consoling you, mix the perfect combination of words to ameliorate the situation, to reiterate the fact that this is anything but another small phase of our life and there are endless possibilities and opportunities out there for one to explore.
To move on is a necessary decision to take, no matter how tough and challenging it may seem
In the end, it’s all up to one to make the decision. To sulk and waste life, or to come out of the struggle by fighting adversities. Everyone has got their opinions and interests, and you ought to respect theirs as well. To move on is a necessary decision to take, no matter how tough and challenging it may seem. What life holds out in the future is still an endless mystery. In the end, change is the only constant!
