”One of the most important things in life is to have people who care about you, and you care about, you know… Love is the magic word, it is, you know? If it wasn’t for love I wouldn’t be here today”
– Our Lady Peace, ‘Mettle’

I’ve been — accused? called out? give it a name — of taking things with Natalie too fast. And that statement (and the concept behind it) confuses me to no end.

First and foremost, this is me. I am the way I am, and I’ve spent enough time self-analyzing to know why I do the things that I do, and to have changed the behaviors that I don’t like, don’t work for me, don’t make me happy. I’m not sure why people continue to question this about me (I have theories, sure, but the more I know, the more I’m certain I have no a clue about).

But on a exterior note: this moment is all that I’m guaranteed. It’s all that any of us are guaranteed. If there is something that I find that makes me happy, I embrace it with every fiber of my being – be it art, sport, or people. Conversely, if something leaves me empty, causes me discomfort, or generally leaves me less-off, why would I stick with it? We only have so many heartbeats; shouldn’t they all count for the most they can?

(Let me note that some short-term discomfort, for me, is critical to a longer-term goal or desire; just because I have a disagreement with a friend does not mean I discard them. The difficulty and displeasure that come with learning a new skill don’t mean I give up learning a new instrument, or writing a new piece.)

Before I digress completely…

Spending time with Natalie makes me indescribably happy. No matter whether we’re chatting in between customers at the bar, wandering aimlessly through the museum, hanging out in bigger groups of friends, or spending an entire weekend day in bed, shooting the shit about whatever idiocy crosses one of our minds, she makes me glow (other people’s words, not mine — though I can feel what they’re talking about, so we’ll roll with that). We connect on a level that I don’t recall ever experiencing . We have so many commonalities, both surface and core, but we also have such different upbringings and backgrounds and experiences that she has an endless fount of things that I can learn from her.

There is no guarantee of tomorrow. There is no guarantee that I’ll finish typing this sentence. Why should I not wrap my arms around things that make me happy with every ounce of strength and enthusiasm that I am capable of?

This concept of too fast, too much — it’s foreign. Why not grab life by the balls and run? Why not introduce someone who has grabbed your heart to your friends, to your family, shout their names and how they make you feel from the rooftops, find every stranger and passer-by and tell them how wonderful life can be? Circumstances, life, the everything could change a minute from now. The world can fall apart. Strokes, heart attacks, bus accidents and plane crashes and lightning strikes happen. Live your life, and do so with no concern of the opinions of others. Do what makes you happy.

Do what makes you happy.

*your mileage may vary. no representation is made that this advice or my point of view is any better or worse than similar services offered by opinionated idiots on the Interwebs. But seriously, unless it involves kids or harm to others: do what makes you happy.