John Cusack

I'm a sucker for a love song. Seriously!! So many people in my life can testify to the fact that I have, on numerous occasions, forced them (to a certain extent) to listen to songs on repeat...for hours!
"Everything I do" by Bryan Adams
"We Belong Together" by Gavin DeGraw
"Arms of a Woman" by Amos Lee
"Forever" by Ben Harper
...& the list goes on & on!

When I listen to these songs I literally leave reality & find myself off in some other 'unrealistic land of love.' At times I become so 'involved' in my own fairy tale version of love that my expectations for future love could only ever be fulfilled by some perfect combination of 'The Princess Bride's' Wesley the farm boy, 'Pride & Prejudice's' Mr. Darcy, & 'Clueless's' Josh. I am pretty much setting any guy who comes along in life up for failure.

In Chuck Klosterman's book 'Sex, Drugs, & Cocoa Puffs' he blames the fact that he will never be able to fully satisfy a woman on John Cusack's character 'Lloyd Dobler' from the movie 'Say Anything.' (hilarious chapter...) In my mind I think a normal romance should be similar to Cory & Topanga on 'Boy Meets World' & at times I'm not sure if I'd be satisfied with anything less. There's a great line from Hamlet that says 'Love is begun by time, & time qualifies the spark & fire of it.' A great romance will take time & compromise. It will never be perfect. I'm pretty sure if I want a perfect romance I'll just have to keep daydreaming of my 'Mr. Wesley Josh Darcy,' but I'd miss out on so much of that beautiful imperfection.

So, while it's okay for me to enjoy those beautiful love songs, I need to remember that romance will never be perfect, I need to stop setting my expectations so high that no man would be able to live up to them, & I need to trust God & put Him at the center of any future relationship that comes my way...because, honestly, that's what makes a beautiful relationship.