And since when does one truly know when to let go before it’s too late?

Sometimes, we put ourselves in the line of fire for a special someone because we are led to believe that by showing how persistent we can be, that person will understand that we care for them and that they should give themselves the chance(s) to get to know your worth.  But sometimes, by putting ourselves in that very same line of fire, we (indirectly) deny our very wants and needs and become oblivious to the realization that the person who we’re so very intrigued by does not want to be fought for.

Perhaps you already know this and you’re just refusing to accept it as truth – you’re hopeful and optimistic, (characteristics gifted to you by experience?).  Perhaps you want your efforts to be acknowledged – after all, would you really put forth so much effort if you didn’t care about this person in the first place?  It is safe to assume that no one who is worth your time could be considered unworthy of your dedication or to be a waste of your affection and attention.

You sometimes enter into the given situation wearing a blindfold because you determine, (after close inspection of the nature this person displays), that all this person needs is to remove hers (or his) own “blindfold of fears” so that s/he can learn to acknowledge your efforts and lower the tall defensive walls that impede you from moving past their mystery.  You trust that this person has acknowledged your presence and needs some guidance – you become convinced that only you can offer that service; or rather, you place that responsibility upon yourself and promise to follow through with your conviction.  You learn the meaning of patience, though you do not grow virtuous.  You are not intimidated by this person’s fears and indifference.  You see a light at the end of the very long tunnel, despite the feeling of emotional distance that you experience; despite the bittersweet incommodities that keep you awake at nights.  You disregard your doubts with excuses for the person’s behaviours and forget to entertain your own wants and needs.

There comes a time when one must learn to say ‘enough is enough’ – (you have thought about it many times before, have you not?).  Walking away from something that becomes fruitless is easier in thought than in progress, but trust me when I say that it is not impossible.  When you plant a seed, you water it and keep it company, hoping that time will allow you to see its results.  And yet, sometimes, when the seed refuses to sprout, it is then when you must re-plant the seed on new fertile grounds, or simply leave it to be.  Not all roots grow a stem; neither do all the firm-looking flowers have steady roots.

There is no perfect being out there; just imitations that reflect our desires and the image of our ideal mate.  The one you think is perfect would not make you wait around in between unanswered questions.  The one you think is perfect would not test your patience or leave you to drown in a pool of doubts.  In fact, the one that you think is perfect would never ask such a thing of you – in the end, it is your own decision to stick around that will make you feel doubtful, refused, and alone.

Surround yourself in solitude from time to time and meditate on your actions.  Because, (if science has proven useful to the hopeless romantic), for every action there should be an equal, opposite reaction.  That is not to say that you should give with the hopes of receiving, but do ask yourself the following:  Does this person show as much interest or as much enthusiasm as you do?  If the answer is unclear, meditate some more.  If the answer is ‘no’, then do what is right for you and move on.

With that said, it is never easy to throw in the towel, especially when your heart has become so very attached to the essence of this person.  Sometimes we are so passionate about our ideals that we refuse to see things for the clarity that they show.  We see them in a different light because we are hopeful.  We see them in a different light because love, (or deep infatuation), can be blinding.

I just want you to know that your patience is most likely very much appreciated by the other person, even if it is not verbally expressed at times.  It is certainly not their direct intention to hurt you.  We all need physical or emotional connections; despite how jaded we grow to be due to the incessant hurts that continue to lecture us about our ideals of romance.  And yet, given the benefit of the doubt, the only one thing that can cause you continuous frustration will be your choices.  After all, you are responsible for the life you lead.