First things first. Love is the most beautiful, exhilarating, and meaningful experience this life has to offer.

It’s the reason poets write sonnets, your favourite R&B artist has a job, and your best friend won’t stop talking about their new crush.

But is the statement “where there’s love, hurt is never far behind”, true?

It’s a bit like the uninvited guest at the party who shows up, eats all the chips, drinks like there’s no tomorrow, and then crashes on your couch.

You didn’t ask for it, but there it is.

Now, before you roll your eyes and think, “Oh great, another ‘love is pain’ story,” hear me out.

I’m not ambivalent about love (me, who is writing this specific article). I love “L-O-V-E” and everything that comes with it.

Even though I felt like dying when I was going through my first heartbreak… Mane. It was crazy.

But here’s the thing: understanding the connection between love and hurt isn’t about being cynical, it’s more about being prepared. It’s about knowing that love, like anything worth having, comes with its own set of challenges. It is what it is.

And if you can wrap your head around that, you’re already ahead of the game.

No matter how you twist it, love requires vulnerability. You’re essentially handing someone your heart and saying, “Here you go, take care of this. It's yours to hold now” And guess what? Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't. They might neglect it, drop it, or simply decide they don't want to carry it anymore. It hurts, because that heart? It's yours, and unfortunately when you give it away, you can't control how they treat it.

But here’s the thing: that risk is what makes love so powerful. If it were easy, everyone would do it perfectly, and we’d all be walking around in a state of blissful harmony. Spoiler alert: we’re not.

Think about it like this: love is like investing in the stock market. You put your time, energy, and emotions into it, hoping for a return. But just like the market, there are no guarantees. Sometimes you hit the jackpot, and other times you lose big. The key is understanding that the potential for hurt is part of the deal.

It’s not a flaw in the system… It’s the system.

I will end with a quote from “Meet Joe Black”.

“Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without.

I say, fall head over heels. Find someone you can love like crazy and who will love you the same way back.

How do you find him? Well, you forget your head, and you listen to your heart.

Cause the truth is, honey, there's no sense living your life without this.

To make the journey and not fall deeply in love, well, you haven't lived a life at all. But you have to try, cause if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.”

Take care!