When I was walking to class the other day I was caught up philosophizing (and obviously not paying attention to where I was walking, but that is not the point I'm looking to make here).
I was wondering why it takes some people moments to open their heart and soul to strangers-made-friends, and it takes others years, in the event that they are able to do it at all. And the easiest way for me to wrap my mind around it was thinking about it like piloting a plane.
When you're up in the air, you're completely vulnerable and the only thing between you and a very, very hard landing is a wing and a prayer. Well, two wings. And a whole lot of empty air.
In any case, there is just that feeling of being so far above the world, nothing but joy and happiness. However, things have a habit of ending when you expect it the least, and a lot of the time, it's not going to be pretty. When you come out of the wreckage, scraped up but alive (and you will survive - nature makes sure we live through the worst of it, wouldn't you know?) odds are you're not going to hope on the spare plane you had in your pocket and fly on home.
I guess my analogy is a little far fetched. But you have these relationships with people, friends you haven't seen in months and can pick up right where you left off, it's familiar airspace. You know those currents like you do your own skin. Every once and a while there will be some turbulence, but it passes, doesn't it?
But after you crash and burn, you're afraid. It's not the plane, and it's not your skills. It's the unknown air that is out there, threatening to swallow you whole.
Now, you can't stay grounded forever. And if you can, then you're missing out. At some point, we have to get back in the seat and hope for the best.
And the sooner the better.
Because no one should be afraid of loving anyone.