Unmasking Love: Navigating Relationships in a Complex World

Navigating new relationships can be challenging, and it's something I've observed, especially among young people in their 20s, particularly in the black community. Regardless of gender, there's a tendency to feel the need to compromise too much when entering a relationship with someone who comes from a completely different background with their own values, beliefs, and behaviors. It can become overwhelming to give so much of yourself that you no longer recognize the person in the mirror.

This journey can often be stressful, perturbing, and distressing because it's a struggle to figure out how to maintain a relationship while society urges you to embrace the present to avoid future responsibilities. Despite feeling young, external pressures push young people into relationships before they've had a chance to discover themselves fully, considering the life circumstances they've endured. Contrary to the belief that young people don't carry baggage, we do. We're dealing with the legacy of our parents, grandparents, and ancestors, and sometimes we forget to grant ourselves the grace and self-awareness we need to understand ourselves fully.

Young people are tired too. We're weary of societal expectations and even our own expectations. We're weary of our upbringing, weary of life itself, and weary of the loneliness that accompanies adhering to social norms while grappling with internal brokenness. We yearn for freedom, but it's challenging to find it in a world filled with hate and resentment.

We want to love freely, yet we're cautious about expressing our emotions openly because not everyone understands that love transcends the physical. Why must men prove their love through concrete actions when saying it should be enough? Why must women strive to be seen as whole, rather than feeling like a little girl seeking acknowledgment for their true selves?

The pressure to conform sometimes leads us to dim our light, fearing the judgment of others and striving to make our parents and grandparents proud, all while avoiding our own unresolved emotions. Vulnerability terrifies us, yet we're equally afraid of giving our entire being to someone because it feels too overwhelming. We develop thick skin when we secretly long to be cradled in the arms of someone who reassures us that everything is okay.

Men need love, and so do women. Men seek protection, and women do too. However, we often hide behind facades, hesitant to reveal our true feelings for fear of scaring others away or letting go of our pride. We've evolved, but at the cost of our mental well-being. We yearn to soar and be free in a world filled with uncertainties.

Mental health struggles are real, and people long for the freedom to express love without being confined by labels. Love should not require waiting for decades or the birth of a child to manifest. We should have the liberty to express love to the fullest extent in the present moment. Love is simpler than we make it out to be, but our pride complicates matters. When we allow bitterness, resentment, and closed-off attitudes to take root, we inadvertently project negativity onto others.

It's essential to channel our inner struggles into something positive, creating legacies that will transcend generations. Changing the world doesn't always require having a child; it can start by simply being kind to others. Changing the world is about being authentically you and helping others become the best versions of themselves. Even if you don't single-handedly change the world, remember that the world won't change for you either. Do what you can, and do it with purpose. Let your light shine and inspire others.