Tuesday, November 2, 2010

"Felipe" on Love...

After reading "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert... I continued on to start reading her follow up book "Committed" to find out what happened to the author after she met and fell in love with "Felipe" in Indonesia.

Call me corny or cliche, but I really enjoyed this analogy by Felipe about what it means to love someone. Enjoy!


this beautiful picture was taken by a beautiful friend and fellow blogger, Tessa! thank you for letting me use your photo! check out her blog here!

"When I used to go down to Brazil to buy gemstones, I would often buy something they call 'a parcel'. A parcel is this random collection of gems that the miner or the wholesaler or whoever is bullshitting you puts together. A typical parcel would contain, I don't know, maybe twenty or thirty aquamarines at once. Supposedly, you get a better deal that way -- buying them all in a bunch --but you have to be careful, because of course the guy is trying to rip you off. He's trying to unload his bad gemstones on you by packaging them together with a few really good ones.

"So when I first started in the jewelry business," Felipe went on, "I used to get in trouble because i'd get too excited about the one or two perfect aquamarines in the parcel, and i wouldn't pay as much attention to the junk they threw in there. After I got burned enough times, I finally got wise and learned this: You have to ignore the perfect gemstones. Don't even look at them twice because they're blinding. Just put them away and have a careful look at the really bad stones. Look at them for a long time, and then ask yourself honestly, 'Can I work with these? Can I make something out of this?' Otherwise, you've just spent a whole lot of money on one or two gorgeous aquamarines buried inside a big heap of worthless crap.

"It's the same with relationships, I think. People always fall in love with the most perfect aspects of each other's personalities. Who wouldn't? Anybody can love the most wonderful parts of another person. But that's not the clever trick. The really clever trick is this: Can you accept the flaws? Can you look at your partner's faults honestly and say, 'I can work around that. I can make something out of that.' ? Because the good stuff is always going to be there, and it's always going to be pretty and sparkly, but the crap underneath can ruin you."

Thoughts?

20 comments:

Trish said...

ohhh i like this, im stealing this from you!! hahahah =]

amileinherheels said...

I love this post Kym. I'm reading the book as well!! I can't wait to watch the movie, even though I've heard it's not as good as the book. (Always is the case)

I def agree. It's hard to accept the flaws, but so, so easy to see the best in others, and like them for that. I for one have definitely learned and grew from past relationships. I honestly think my faith has a whole lot to do with that haha. It's easier when I think of it this way: We love because He first loved us :)

And no probs!! Let me know if you have new products on the way ;) I'd be so up for shooting for you!! <3

Farah said...

Wow..I really like this quote. I sort of learnt to do this the hard way. When boypren was away studying for two years all that you notice and remember are all his faults and flaws. I then had to decide whether it was worth going through all the hardship that came with a long distance relationship.

Also CONGRATS on the engagement! I know I am really late but I'm sorry I've been busy with school and all. So happy for you! XD

krissy ♥ said...

I like this Kym, thanks for sharing :) I would also want to read Committed but seeing that I still have a big stack of books bought monthsss ago but never read until now, it's prolly not a good idea to go get one now.

Nashe^ said...

That's a good analogy. The bad points are very important, aren't they? I guess it's easy to ignore flaws at the beginning... though it's nice to get totally swept away though. haha.

Totchii said...

Ohhh amazing. I agree! I've noticed that's how relationships end usually, because they can't work together with their faults. If you know their imperfections, and still love them - I think that's real love :3.

Roxanne Arriola said...

I love this post it's so true. It makes me want to read that book now.

Kalmo said...

Aw thought provoking passage about relationships, made me think of SO. ^^

Melissa said...

I started reading committed this summer on my way to Chicago and that line is wisdom for a lifetime ! I realized that this is why I had to let go of some relationships that I loved very much. Sometimes you find out that the crap will stink forever and the smell will never go away lol.

dolce la robyn said...

i've tried. as in, i've learnt how to accept the person's flaws. i forgive.

i ended up heartbroken.

even though you learn to how to accept those flaws, at the end of the day, it's how much you want each other to be in each others life.

i think. :p

ochikeron said...

This is something I always forget about... I try to accept people who can ruin me, but it's pretty risky when I don't have time... that's the problem...

But anyway, different idea but my darling usually has a different opinion, which I try to listen because sometimes he is right ;)

Nicole said...

I love that passage from the book. I think it's a really good point. Sure it may be little things that bug you about someone, but if there are enough little things that combined drive you crazy then it's not going to be worth it.

Marie said...

I agree.:D

***** Marie *****
allthingsmarie.com

Shop N' Chomp said...

Amen.

Alice said...

I've heard good things about this book, but I have yet to read it!

The thing is, I think everyone has flaws. There is no such thing as a perfect person. Sure, I'm willing to accept with flaws and all. I know I got flaws of my own. Although feelings will get hurt and tears will shed; you live and forget. That's how I see it, but then again it's not always easy to forgive...but that's a whole different topic. Yes, crap can ruin you, but you have to somehow get past that...

I see that you like to make clothes and accessories, so do I. :)

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

I haven't read the book yet but great post. I like how you point out if we can take flaws. It can be hard if you are not in a love with someone but if you truly love someone, I have to say it's possible.

MissEmy said...

I was talking with this woman in her 90's and she was telling me about her first husband who had passed away many years ago. I asked her why she married him and she answered, he was the only one who could stand me! Or something like that.

I'll have to read that book sometime!

Amy said...

hey girl - i have read eat pray love too and i was wondering if her second book was any good. i read a couple reviews on amazon and it wasn't....as good?? do you recommend?

from your entry - it sounds like a great read like her other book but i'm not so sure if i want to spend that much money since i'm a little hard up on money now. :)

and love..yes - that is love. no such thing as a perfect person but can you love their imperfections. can you live with their imperfections is the thing. :)

izumi said...

so true. it doesn't matter how perfect someone is or how perfectly you fit together.. do your edges fit? or did you find out later that you're a hexagonal mold and he's a.. whatever seven-sided-shapes are?? hahahaa. you know?? xD