Hellos and goodbyes...

How do you draw the line between caring for others and not getting hurt? Is there even a line, or are the two inseparable? No one wants to get hurt, but yet a life spent caring for yourself doesn't appeal as well... But once you put a little bit of yourself into someone else, you immediately become vulnerable.

Quoting Taylor Swift, "...he's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar, the only one who's got enough of me to break my heart..."


So yeah... would you give enough of yourself, to take the plunge to care anyway? Or shy away? Or let's put it another way... Should you even take that plunge? Or should you shy away?

But thankfully, or unfortunately, there's a 3rd option. You automatically start caring, unconsciously or subconsciously... and you'll only find out how much you actually cared about that person/that cause when you get hurt in some way- through rejection, failure, or even, an innocent teasing comment...

Anyway, remember the initial stage of a friendship? When the two of you would be grasping at straws to find something to carry on the conversation, things would be a little awkward at times, and in your heart you'd be thinking 'this is such a waste of time'...

Then the ripening of the friendship, where everything's sunshine and four-leaf clovers, and you just can't stop talking... and in your heart you'd be thinking 'wow, she/he's such a nice friend to have!'
Lastly... no, not the breaking off (friendships, thankfully unlike most romantic relationships, have much longer lifespans)... but the part where the two of you hug and tear and swear eternal friendship, and part regretfully. Few years down the road, you probably won't even know which continent that person is living in. Once in a long while you chat on the phone/msn/skype, and the most commonly used phrase would be, "we should meet up sometime...", and chances are- you never would, unless one party has the heart enough to follow up.

Okay I've rambled long enough. I guess my point today is- what's the point in all this? In going through the process of a simple hello to a tearful farewell? In opening yourself up to hurt others and be hurt, intentionally or not? For the sake of the moment? To build character and be a better person? Just because that's what life is all about? So that one day we could look back and say wistfully, "those were the days..."? What's the **** point??

*Sighs*

There is a longing, only you can fill
A raging tempest, only you can still
My heart is thirsty Lord...





... Take me deeper.