This made my spine tingle.

Ever wondered what it would be like to have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? How about having OCD and trying to have a relationship?

From this poet’s words here, I can see it’s pretty tough. But I can also see how it can be strangely amazing. From the poet’s perspective, that connection with a loved one was healing, while it lasted. From the perspective of his love interest in the poem, befriending or falling in love with someone who experiences the world so differently from us can be exciting.

It can open our eyes to new experiences, provide us with a new perspective on the ordinary. But, as the poem progresses we can see it is also difficult and sometimes inconvenient.

This is a progression many relationships take. Our foibles and quirks are cute at first, exotic and interesting. We all have something odd about us. But it takes someone special to find those quirks adorable beyond the “honeymoon” phase of a relationship.

It’s a rare and beautiful thing when it happens, but I think it doesn’t have to be so rare.

I believe love is a choice. It’s not something that happens to us. We’re active agents in this process, not passive ones. There is no Cupid striking us with arrows. We make choices about how we feel, how we respond to situations and people. We can choose to love more often, and choose to be patient and understanding. If we did that more often, this poem might have had a happier ending.

Author: Kathryn Muyskens

Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Stefan Kohil/Flickr