Feelings, we all have them, we all feel them, but we rarely acknowledge them or even share them. As part of humanity, we engage in Racial discussions, political discussions and all sorts of difficult conversations because without a conversation there is a constant lack of awareness. Unfortunately, there seems to be a huge deficit of both conversation and understanding when it comes to human emotions. As we progress through life, we learn and we grow to become more intellectual, but never more emotional. In fact, it is perceived as a sign of weakness and so we are all pressured into silencing it or denying the existence of it.

Highly prevalent within the dating culture in colleges, this phenomenon is never talked about because talking about your feelings is looked down upon or considered as something that is not “cool”. Instead, of telling the person how you feel, an “open” or a “no label” relationship is established where it is convenient to go on ignoring emotions but at the same time holding on to it.

Sometimes, it is just scary because accepting your feelings means putting it out there which might be reciprocated or rejected. Either way, it is more humane and healthy to just let your feelings speak because the more you are in touch with your emotions, the more you are in touch with yourself. Along with sharing compassion with the other comes a great opportunity of not just exploring the other but oneself, because emotions create challenges to be explored.

The underlying irony is that It takes a lot of strength to make yourself completely vulnerable and although it might be excruciatingly painful at times, you know that you gave it your all, leaving behind no regrets. Life is always unexpected and this confusion is what makes it beautiful so might as well take a chance and see what it has in store for you, because not always is it painful, sometimes, emotions can unfold into something beautiful and pure, love.

When we are made to confront our desires, it is better to just take a leap of faith because we would not be wondering later of what could’ve been or what could’ve been made, but that we did it, leaving behind no room for emotional turbulence.

There have been times when my feelings were ignored, discarded and I swore to myself to never become vulnerable again, but I am not filled with guilt for I have learned, learned a lot from the good and bad repercussions that followed.

Yes, I might be a little too careless when it comes to handling my emotions but the errors have just made me more and more careful, more and more aware, more and more strong. So, the next time, feelings succumb you, surrender. Next time, do not run away. Next time, be brave enough to say it out loud, “I Like You” because I happen to have emotions.