A real man...?

A real man doesn't love a million girls.
He loves one girl in a million ways.

(I saw this quote, but no attribution.
If you know if it should be attributed,
please let me know.)

A few thoughts on this quote:

What exactly is a "real" man?

If you're not a "real" man,
what are you?

Interesting to note the use
of the word "man" with the
word "girls" (as opposed to
"women").

What kind of love are we
talking about? Are we talking
about sex? Are we talking
about romantic love? Love
falls into many categories,
which one or ones are being
referred to?

Does it even matter what kind
of love it is?

The problem, as I see it, with
this statement is that it limits
the possibilities. What is so
wrong with the idea of loving
more than one person?

Nothing.

Unless.

Unless one considers all of the
appendages that come along with
that love, and becomes the definition
of love. When love is appended,
then it isn't about love any more.
It is about those things instead.

There is something beautiful about
relationships that are on the same
page, and if two people want to
focus on each other only, then
loving each other (not just men,
not just women) a million ways
could potentially bring a kind
of spark that can keep things
going and bring steam to the
relationship dynamic.

To make it seem like someone is
inferior or a terrible person
because they are open to caring
about more than one person at a
time just seems wrong to me (and
I am not one usually to claim
something as right or wrong).

It isn't an easy conversation to
be had, or an easy tight rope to
walk, as it takes communication
and understanding between people
that is uncommon. However, when
two people can navigate those
roads, and allow breathing room,
one can always hope that it makes
the world a better place in the
process.

If two people are meant to be
together, there is nothing that
will keep them apart, and there
is also nothing that can keep
two people together if they are
supposed to be apart. Trying to
keep relationships going that
should have ended in the name of
"love" is one of the biggest
errors we can make. Sometimes
loving someone means letting
that person go their separate way.

The more that we can identify
the pieces and parts of what
creates the dynamics in which
we live, the less likely we
are to be at the unconscious
effect of them and the resulting
choices.

Things that are so much a part
of who we are, aren't recognized
for what they are separate from
who we are. If we were to be
able to recognize them, we
might also recognize that they
don't really fit who we are or
want to be.

What really matters is that you
find your true self and allow
yourself to be the person you
were designed to be.

Is it easy? Will everyone around
you like it or appreciate it?
Likely the answer is NO.

Is it worth it?

Likely the answer will be YES.

There will always be disagreement.
The question is what is important
to you, and is it worth taking a
stand for despite what others
will say or think?

Of course, if you're in a relationship,
the other person should matter.
But if that relationship causes
you to compromise in ways that
compromise things that are important
to you or has you doing things with
a blatant disregard of the other person
and their desires, it might be time to
look at things and decide if a change
might be warranted.

Different people are like different
cars and, with each, your mileage
will vary. There will be a lot less
difficulty, conflict and disappointment
and a lot more respect and love, if
you know who you are first, and then
find someone who is suited to your
preferences.

The key then will be to remember that
people and preferences change. When
that happens, adjustments may become
necessary. As much as we want things
to remain the same they rarely, if
ever, do.

While it is inherent in the message of
the quote what the author believes is
wrong, I'd say the only thing that is
"wrong" is when one person's perspective
is perpetuated as THE truth.