Hopeless romantic or Romantic at heart?

By Vanshita Sharma

3rd year, BA Sociology Honours

Design: Ayushi Rani

According to the internet, a hopeless romantic is someone who has an idealistic view of romantic love but when you come to think about it, is it really the case?

I've been termed as a hopeless romantic for most of my life, however, upon reflection, I realise that I am simply a romantic at heart. I strive to find love in everything around me—people, animals, books, films, and music. What makes being romantic hopeless? Is it the fear that others may not reciprocate your feelings or the anxiety of never finding a romantic partner? Shouldn't we view this as a possibility rather than hopelessness? For instance, when it comes to jobs, there's a chance of success or failure, but that doesn't deter us from pursuing more opportunities or seeking higher earnings. So why do we label love as hopeless when it involves similar uncertainties?

There is no such thing as being idealistic about romantic love because ideals are merely principles we aspire to achieve. But what principles apply to love? While we all have certain preferences and standards for our future partners, we often find ourselves falling for people who don't fit those criteria. This reinforces the idea that there are no true ideals in love. We love others with their flaws and imperfections, and being idealistic about love can often serve as a defense mechanism to avoid getting hurt—something I admit to doing myself.

A romantic at heart is someone who actively seeks love and understands the type of love they desire. Personally, I long for a peaceful, slow love that brings me tranquility and simplifies my life. What is hopeless about that? Have we reached a point where even aspiring for something we want is deemed hopeless? If so, then I will gladly embrace that label.

Love is something that should be treasured, wanted, maddening and the reason you get out of bed in the morning. When we begin to view love through this perspective, we could all be considered as romantics at heart.