"Hearts will never be practical until they are made unbreakable." – Wizard of Oz

Well, that quote says it all. We’ve all been through a breakup, and well, let’s just say it’s not exactly a fun thing to have to go through.  The idea of your heart being broken is a weird one. Hearts do physically break… that’s what cardiologists are for, but what about the emotional tearing of a heart? That seems to be something that no medicine, surgery, or even venting can fix. I guess a broken heart just needs some time to mend and to move on.

Ask anyone, and they will tell you they have that one breakup story that shook them completely. Whether they were dumped, broke it off with the other person, or it was mutual—love is a funny thing. What makes the heart feel such strong emotions for someone else? I’ve always pondered the thought. Is it really your heart that hurts? Is that aching really that blood pumping muscle that keeps you alive? I’m not really sure, but what I do know is that something inside you is torn when you lose a loved one.

Falling in love is something extraordinary. Your eyes may not lock across a room like in a frilly chick flick, but that heated emotion you feel when you realize it, is better than a “love at first sight” movie scene. Your heart throbs, you can’t wipe that ridiculous smile off your face, and you suddenly experience the Mean Girl’s coined term “word vomit” about the other person. Your life has suddenly taken a turn for the better, and has just brightened a little bit. Sometimes, you may even want to scream to the world, “I Love Him!”

So, how is it possible that those feelings can just go away? Forever…. Even if it takes time to get to that place. What makes the switch inside change from love to hate, or love to nothing? It’s a bizarre thing, that thing called love.

You love your parents. That’s an innate emotion. You couldn’t imagine anything bad happening to them, and if it does- your world ends. Where does that start? Does it start when as a baby you come out screaming covered in goo? Does it start once you have a better understanding of the world? And how does that emotion relate to that of a romantic relationship?

Every love song is about love and loss (or at least some version of that… country includes a dog and truck and losing them both…) and I can’t help but wonder if we’ve all gone through it, and continue to go through it, then why? Why do we have to. Is there any solution to the inevitable heartbreak?

Here’s to hoping there’s less heartbreak in the future…

I am no tin man (see title if you don't understand this.)

M