Imagine this.
You are sailing on the left-most, fastest lane on the freeway, comfortably at the speed of 75 mph. It is relatively uncrowded. See that white Accord farthest from you in the right most lane?
Some relationships in your life are like that. You are aware of them, even see them but there is always going to be so much distance between you'll. No chance to peep into their world or for them into yours. Just a knowledge of each others presence without any real insights. And you let the other be, aware that you need the distance because of the different speeds. You want to experience the freeway differently. Just a wave through the window satisfies.
Oh..that black Mercedes did it again! Just over took you and race passed. Bloody, there he comes ahead of you again. You gotta gear up higher now.
Haven't we had a black Mercedes in our lives at some point? A challenger who compels you to shift to a higher gear, out of your comfort zone. And you have to respond because that's what you must do. Show them, or perhaps maybe only to yourself, that you are better. Accept the challenge and win it. And boy, does it feel good to get ahead again! Certain relationships are meant to be there only to get you ahead of yourself. If it wasn't for them, you wouldn't have pushed yourself, known your limits, your mettle.
Wait.. What's that driving one lane apart? A graffiti imprinted Beetle? Intriguing. Who would do that to their car? And why? Who is driving it?! You shift a lane to the right, even slow down to have a look. It has sparked your attention and curiosity. But just then it jumps to the right lane and... there it goes towards the exit. Now gone.
Some relationships are fleeting like this. You notice them, make movements, adjust to the changes just for a chance to look inside. The outside of it is so unconventional and most times, so unlike you. You are motivated to have a clearer, closer look. You look away for half-a-second to bring out your binoculars and... bam!its gone. Leave you feeling betrayed and angry. You'll never forget how it made you feel--fresh, lucky, and special. And in some corner of your heart, you'll nurture a longing to encounter it just one last time.
On to the road again...a few miles down you see a car stopped at the shoulder. With broken headlights. Looks like an accident. You slow down a bit and wonder if you should offer help. You feel sorry for the situation and see a towing van approaching. Relieved that necessary help has arrived, you continue driving.
You enjoy the sunshine only because you know the rains. Those messed-up relationships you get involved in...they sure as hell give you grief. But if you are wise, you'll learn from experience and respect the sorted bits you have. You'll learn to discern between the worthwhile and useless and gain clarity about yourself, your preferences, needs and wants. There is always a lesson in adversity.
Now, five minutes to your destination. Phew.. finally there. You glance around the inside of your car--a blue Altima. You know every corner, buttons and features of this one, You know its quirks and patterns--it makes a weird whirring sound above the speed of 35. You know its needs--bi-monthly service on its brakes and annually on tires. You pay for it, care for it.
Like the closest relationships. You spend yourself in every way to maintain them and in return, they carry you and support you in your journey. You know every nook in it, every small details, their strengths and shortcomings. Similar to how you sometimes feel like getting a new car, you crave a change from these familiar bonds. But you soon get around to realize their preciousness. Memories, nostalgia do their part to align you once again to where you belong. There is no replacing them.
You smile at the thought and turn towards the mirror to look at a happy you. Your satisfied eyes suddenly turn wistful in the reflection. Your body and mind leap, once again, to the rollercoaster experience you had at the amusement park last month. The thrill, the speed, the stimulation. The way it made you feel--funny and vulnerable--in your gut and left you wanting more.
And then there are the rollercoaster relationships. You carefully wrap them in a constructed narrative and stow it away in a secret alley of your heart. You have gone through every aspect--physical, emotional, spiritual--so many times and out of it, you have cautiously plucked out things that matter and recreated the experience in your mind. To suit your feelings. To suit your story.To let you be the hero. But there is still an emptiness you cannot get rid off. And so you program this entire memory in a way that it only shows up when called for. But it never obeys. Randomly resurfacing and reminding you of the thrill, stimulation, the high anytime anywhere, igniting that spark of wanting it again. But you know these out of the world, invigorating experiences can be afforded only for a short time. The intoxication that engulfs and seeps within you makes the normal impossible. You once again try to allay the conflict by reiterating the rationale--You cannot ride a rollercoaster to the grocery store, to work every morning, or to your best friend's place.