Relationships

Love is at the heart, no pun intended, of most songs and rare are those movies without some sort of love story. While romantic comedies certainly center on relationships, even the most action packed thriller will customarily involve a love interest of some sorts. But what about real life?

Increasingly, people are complaining of being lonely. Some even blame social networking platforms for isolating individuals from one another and hindering social skill development. Notwithstanding, others see it as the exact reverse – pointing to how easy online dating has rendered meeting someone. Still, is it safe? As one online dating site company explained: Meeting new people is potentially unsafe everywhere and anytime, whether online or in real life.

The heart symbol, as represented above, has long become an expression of warmth and affection. Used as pictorial or as <3 in instant and text messaging, as well as chat rooms, it means love. However, cardiologists and other health professionals, or simply persons familiar with the human anatomy, will notice that the real human heart bears little resemblance to the figure. Ironically enough, legend has it that the metaphor was initially derived from the inverted shape of a woman’s behind. Skeptic? Unromantic? Who knows… Image: Copyright © Megan Jorgensen (Elena).

And where else may one meet potential soulmates? One survey showed that work, as well as through friends at parties or double dates, were most often cited. Indeed, social psychologists have long professed that the more social connections one already holds, the more new friends one is likely to make. Does it matter? The answer is a resounding: Yes! Social life and support seems to confer a large number of advantages, namely friendship, companionship, emotional, psychological, occupational and even academic and physical.

Copyright © 2011 Megan Jorgensen. All rights reserved.