Riding a train once, I saw a couple across from me cuddling and bursting each other’s pimples. What was I seeing? Clearly something extraordinary. A pair so in love that they thought popping pimples on their lover’s face was fun. I had never seen anything similar before. I haven’t seen anything like it since.

Here they were deliberately squeezing the puss out of each other’s faces, one pimple after the next, and smearing the white stuff on their own jeans. The whole time they both had a distant and dreamy gaze in their eyes. As if nothing on earth held any meaning to them outside of one another. So, I might have been repulsed, but I was happy for them. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the sight of those two as long as I live. How could I?

Me, personally, I’ve never been in love. I’ve been infatuated. But never in love. Not even close. I’ve never been involved with a woman who meant so much to me that I’d pop her pimples for her and wipe the puss on my pants. Smiling, the whole time. In fact, as far as I’m able to determine, I can’t do that. It just isn’t my thing. But to tell the truth, I kind of wish I knew what it was like to feel that deeply. To love in that way. It has to be indescribable I’m sure.

I know infatuation is intoxicating. I can only imagine what true romantic love is like though. I mean the kind demonstrated by that couple on the train. Some say that kind of love is a poison. I wouldn’t know. But I do know that it animates, awakens, enlivens and challenges the heart and mind like few things can. I’ve seen people do dumb things while they were in love. On the other hand, I’ve witnessed others do remarkable things for love. And I’ve seen some people accomplish amazing feats through the power of love and triumph in ways that had seemed impossible.

I’m not confining my argument to romantic love only. I’m talking about the power of love in general. Ask around. Experts in various fields including mental health practitioners will insist that there is no healthy lifestyle without love in one form or another. It’s a natural resource found in inspired thoughts and feelings. It’s unlimited in scope and accessible through relationships. Not only that, but in many cases, love can even defeat poor health! It can secure victory against the worst kinds of odds.

In fact, I know an unfortunate dude who died of a destructive disease. His flirtatious girlfriend didn’t mourn too long. She simply found a new man. But to look good in front of the family she went to the funeral, and while weeping, exclaimed over the coffin of the deceased, “I’ll always love you.” And guess what. The lid popped open like a car trunk. And the dude clambered out of his coffin. Yep. So.

If you need somebody to talk to, you can always call the Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787. Or call 988.