stand up for love

This is going to be one of my more philanthropic blog entries... just to warn you.

So, I have a confession to make... my ghetto car lacks a stereo... for an individual rooted in music as myself, that is a huge dilemma. So what do I do? Something highly illegal, that's what. I listen to headphones in the car. It is frowned upon greatly, but I don't care. Things are always a little better when there is a song in my heart.

Well, this morning, on the way to church, I decided to listen to Destiny's Child. The first song on their #1's CD is Stand Up For Love. It's supposed to be about helping children... I suppose third world country children. Apparently it was the anthem for World Children's Day last year (who knew that day existed?). Anyway, I was listening to it, and the weirdest thing happend.

I burst into this embarrassing ball of emotions. I mean, the waterworks came full force. It was like the Hartwell Dam broke.

Honestly, I think the whole reason I reacted in that way physically was because for the past about 2 weeks, I have been completely stoic... I think I wrote about it. It's like emotions wouldn't come. I wasn't necessarily apathetic to things, it's just that I didn't have any sort of outward expression to anything that was going on. Today was honestly the first time in about 2 weeks that I expressed any emotion outwardly.

And it was all because of this song... not because I got all "Save the Children" or anything, but because of my own personal predicament at this point in time.

For the past few weeks, a few people have informed me that I am basically dull... I don't intrigue anyone because I am not... I guess "dynamic" enough. And when I say dynamic, they mean "wild." When I meet someone, I don't immediately jump at the chance to hook up or get some ass... you know? That isn't me. As terrible as a person I might think I am, or anyone who reads this may think I am, I have to admit, that I have never been that type of person. Honestly, I don't know what has made me that type of person either. Maybe it is the fact that I have been rejected so many times that I don't even see anyone as a potential anything. Or maybe it's the fact that the type of people who do that have historically been a turn off to me. I don't know.

In order to save the face of the individual I am about to speak about, I will refer to them as Emotionless Enigma, or EE. EE and I were talking the other day when I challenged EE NOT to hook up with anyone this weekend. Mind you, EE is one of the individuals who claims that I am a stick in the mud... and no one likes a stick in the mud. EE fought with me about why it wouldn't be a bad idea to mess around. I gave into EE's banter, but once the conversation was over, I still thought to myself, "That is so disappointing."

I mention this because my goal in my present situation is not to "whore" out to meet anyone. EE claims that doing so would be a sure shot at a relationship. Frankly, I don't want a relationship built on that... My idea is that charm has got to still be worth something. I guess I am old fashioned in a way, and I feel that for me, being a nice guy with nice words and a personable demeanor will get me farther than sticking my tongue down someone's throat.

Hence, why the song Stand Up For Love meant so much to me this morning. It says "And I believe, that in my life I will see and end to hopelessness, of giving up, of suffering... If we stand together this one time and no one will get left behind... stand up for love." Yeah, I know it's talking about loving the kids and whatever, but look at it again and put it in the context of an individual who at times has felt hopeless, like giving up, and suffered. Think about if people... ALL people stopped being so fast and freaky for just a minute and realized that people would be happier and relationships would mean more if people learned to appreciate people for what they have to offer on the full scale, not just on the outside... imagine what it would be like, if there were more people who did Stand Up For Love... people who would be a benefit to everyone, just by showing the mere fact that what they have the ability to love... not just exploit others, but LOVE them.

That's why, I have decided to take the phrase Stand Up For Love and run with it. As dreadful as it has been, and as dreadful as it will surely continue to be, I can't succumb to the school of thought that slutting out will achieve everything I want in a relationship. It's terrible.

My goal is to remain this way... grounded and compassionate... and hopefully that will mean enough to someone.

And by no means am I trying to sound pious or holier than thou. It's just that in my day to day interactions, I don't come in contact with many people who share my philosophy on the matter. At times I really do feel as if I am one of the few who have a desire to maintain charm and adoration between two people.

It's lonely... but someone has to stand up for love.