essay the first time i fell in love

Recommended for you

The first time i fell in love, not your typical love story..

The first time I fell in love was nothing like I ever expected. I know that most of you are thinking this is going to be another love story between a boy and a girl; however, this is not a typical love story.

It all started my junior year of high school. I went to a private Christian school and had been a dancer since I was 3 years old. My entire life consisted of going to school, then to dance practice for about three hours every night and more on the weekends. It was even getting to the point where I was putting dance before my relationship with God. I knew it was wrong, but I was too involved with dance to change anything myself. Little did I know that God was up to something. My dance studio was getting ready for our Christmas recital and I was in fourteen dances that year. As we were running through the show, my heart began to beat abnormally fast. Long story short, I found out that I was born with a heart defect and needed surgery. This forced me to pull back from dance and to just kind of chill out. I wasn't allowed to do any kind of physical activity because my heart rate was 294 beats per minute... that's right, two hundred ninety four beats per minute. This was honestly terrifying, but I kept telling myself that I was fine. I knew that God was telling me I needed to check my priorities and find out where I was putting Him on my list. It wasn't a good feeling when I found out where He was.

So, God blessed me with having heart surgery so I could do His work and love His people in a country I never dreamed I would go. Pulling back from dance, allowed more doors to open and for my dreams to be fulfilled. I had always wanted to go on a mission trip. I didn't care where to, I just knew that was something God had blessed me with having a heart for. Going into this mission trip, I had the mindset that I was going to change so many lives and help people in need. However, God had a different plan. My life was forever changed by going to Honduras. I fell in love with people and a country that I never thought I could love so passionately. As soon as I stepped foot in the village of Mount Olivos, Honduras, I knew this is exactly where God wanted me. Needless to say, I fell in love with those children the moment I laid eyes on them. Even though we spoke a different language, we had one thing in common. Love. Love is a universal language and does amazing things. The way the people of Honduras love blows my mind. They have so little, yet so much joy. The way the children would come running and screaming our names when our van pulled into the village, the way they would hang all over me just to be close and have someone tell them they are beautiful and loved, the way I would tickle them and listen to them giggle, and the way they would give me sweet hugs and kisses is what made me fall head over heels in love.

I never thought my first love would be a people and country so far away, but I thank God everyday for it. Each time I go back, the love for those beautiful people gets deeper and stronger. I would rather be covered in dirt and bug bites the size of golf balls with the people I have fallen in love with, than dressed to the nines with a boy that has the potential to break my heart. I know that the love I have for the people of Honduras will never die.

I know my love story sounds a little bit different, but it's my favorite kind. What I witnessed and was a part of in Honduras was unconditional love. Love that makes living this crazy life worth it. So, thank you God for a completely different perspective on life and allowing me to fall in love.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health , says science

Considering that the monthly cost of subscribing to a media-streaming service like Netflix is oft...

Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble .

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

Top Creators

1. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society 2. Radhi, SUNY Stony Brook 3. Kristen Haddox , Penn State University 4. Jennifer Kustanovich , SUNY Stony Brook 5. Clare Regelbrugge , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Personal Narrative: When I Fall in Love

Categories: Love

About this sample

Words: 633 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 633 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

The journey of falling in love, the challenges of love, the power of love, the unfolding journey of love, in conclusion.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 962 words

1 pages / 522 words

1 pages / 648 words

4 pages / 1801 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Love

Imagine a kingdom where justice is determined not by a judge or jury, but by the whims of a semi-barbaric king. In Frank R. Stockton's short story, "The Lady or the Tiger," we are transported to such a kingdom, where love, [...]

In conclusion, "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran is a powerful and timeless love song that has resonated with audiences worldwide. Through its evocative lyrics, Sheeran explores the theme of finding love in an imperfect world, using [...]

In Nicola Yoon's novel "Everything, Everything," the author explores several meaningful themes that resonate with readers of all walks of life. Through her captivating storytelling and relatable characters, Yoon delves into the [...]

Love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that has been the subject of countless literary works, philosophical discussions, and scientific studies. While love is often associated with passion, romance, and affection, it is also [...]

Ray Lawrence’s film Lantana and Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement share several key ideas that can be conveyed to the audience in similar ways. The guilt of betrayal, differences in class and the idea of love are all explored [...]

Some time ago, my mother slept in my room and talked to me about my childhood. She said, ‘You were really terrible when you were a child. No one in the family can control you. I’m dying every three or five days.’ When you were a [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Description of the Falling in Love

How would you describe falling in love for the first time? If you’re about to share your personal experience, check out our sample on falling in love essay! Get some inspiration for your paper with the help of our example essay about falling in love.

Falling in Love: Essay Introduction

Falling in love: essay main body, falling in love: essay conclusion.

The power of love is great. Falling in love changes so many things in a person. Falling in love is a hard experience to describe, one which can never be comprehensively described. Among the greatest experiences in my life, I rate falling in love as the best.

From my experience, I describe falling in love as an intense attraction to a person of the opposite sex. However, this may also occur between persons of the same sex, as is the case for gays or lesbians. When I fell in love, I felt being on top of the world. My life was instantly centered on the girl I had fallen in love with. I spent good time thinking about her. Every time I took a break from my studies, I only thought about her.

Thinking about her was sweet and better than watching a captivating soap opera; I had never known thoughts, too, could be sweet. Before she realized that I had fallen for her, I never wanted to be near her, and yet I greatly regretted the moments I was not close to her. I struggled hard to compose myself in her presence, sometimes I could sweat, and my heart could beat so fast and hard, just like a parade of soldiers on a matching spree.

The best of times came when she realized I had fallen in love with her. She somehow started drawing close to me. It came to my realization that she had accepted my feelings toward her. These were happy moments in my life. My world revolved around her; she was all that mattered to me. It was amazing because everything she said to me was worth listening to. She brought much joy to my life and put me in a state of mind that I had never been in before.

More than ever, I started being careful with the way I dressed and made my hair. I was generally careful with the way I carried myself around her and even the way I talked and walked. Before I knew it, I had withdrawn from my other friends to spend more time with my new wonder.

I was generally changing everything around me to accommodate her into my life. Not even family outings mattered. In most cases, I had to excuse myself to finish up my homework; yes, my new homework of creating more time to be with her. It was wonderful that even in my dreams, she was there. I vividly remember us walking on the beach, feeling the strong wind brushing against our shoulders. Walking hand in hand, slowly and uniformly, we left a trail of footprints behind us on the soft Caribbean sand, which, unfortunately, were quickly washed away by the ocean waves. The sun was setting, and its glare was not intense but soft enough to be watched.

The soft sunrays softly struck the water’s surface and made the area around us beautiful. To me, it was a small heaven crowned by the presence of the one I loved. Her laughter soothed my mind, and I have always regretted waking up from that dream.

The experience of falling in love is great. Falling in love turned my world around and changed the priorities of many things in my life. She became the top agendum and priority in my life. My thoughts and actions were always meant to impress her. No amount of sacrifice was enough for her; I found it exceedingly easy to sacrifice anything in my life for her. The great feeling I felt being with her was all I needed. Maybe I had become blind to other things in life, and probably this is a better reason to view love as being blind.

Cite this paper

Chicago (N-B)
Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2021, February 21). Description of the Falling in Love. https://studycorgi.com/description-of-the-falling-in-love/

"Description of the Falling in Love." StudyCorgi , 21 Feb. 2021, studycorgi.com/description-of-the-falling-in-love/.

StudyCorgi . (2021) 'Description of the Falling in Love'. 21 February.

1. StudyCorgi . "Description of the Falling in Love." February 21, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/description-of-the-falling-in-love/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "Description of the Falling in Love." February 21, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/description-of-the-falling-in-love/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "Description of the Falling in Love." February 21, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/description-of-the-falling-in-love/.

This paper, “Description of the Falling in Love”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: November 8, 2023 .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal . Please use the “ Donate your paper ” form to submit an essay.

First Love Stories: 8 People Share What Their First Love Felt Like

By Teen Vogue

Illustration of holding hands with pinkies looped. Pink background red lines with heart above the hands.

Everyone says you'll never forget your first love , and it's absolutely true. There's nothing like the feeling of falling in love , and the first time you feel that spark, you're changed for good. It's sort of an indescribable thing — everyone has a different first love experience, but the essence of it is the same. People talk about magic, about fire, about everything falling into place.

In honor of Valentine's Day, we asked eight people to share their first love stories. We got the heartwarming and the heartbreaking, and some funny stories along the way.

The Fling Turned First Love

My first love felt like speaking a new language, one that only we knew. It took months for love to come — at first it was a fling, never meant to be shared outside my dirty Boston sublet where we shacked up all summer long. But when school started back up in the fall, we didn't part ways like we'd planned. Instead, we spent all our free time together, exploring the city and each other. They told me they loved me one night in my bed by tracing the letters on my palm. I guessed each letter as they wrote it, stringing them together to name the feeling we both shared. Somehow, we both knew our love wouldn't last forever, but it didn't stop us from reveling in the moment. We shared a beautiful, supportive, and thrilling love for two years before it dissolved. The end was painful, gut wrenching, and now we no longer talk — the language we wrote together is dead, but I still remember how to speak it.

The High School Sweetheart

My first love was my high school sweetheart. I was the new girl and he approached me at my locker to introduce himself. I became really close with his best friend and one day, while his friend and I were talking, I did a split. Eugene immediately excused himself from the conversation he was having with another girl and rushed over to say how that was amazing. He would walk me home (he lived a whole city away), cheer me on at my games, write me notes, talk about me wherever he was. Everyone knew Eugene loved and was with Darlene. I’ll never forget how one day I came home from my shift at the hospital and he messaged me to go downstairs and check the mailbox. Inside were 2 bags of my favorite candy. It meant the world to me. He would drive me around to the weirdest places just because I wanted to go. He paid attention to the small details about me and it’s something I’ve always loved. I'm so thankful for him being my first love because he’s shown me, for the most part, how I would like to be loved and that it’s possible.

The Best Friend Love

We met when we were 15, and it was the most slow-burn friendship to falling in love with the whole of someone. Like finding your best friend and falling in love with them. And then it was paperclip rings, and quiet moments at the beach, and dramatic first kisses, and dancing. So much dancing. Like the electricity sh*t but not cringe. Like real and premature ventricular contractions, heart skipping beats. Like looking in someone’s eyes and knowing that they aren’t looking at you, they see you. Like they aren’t hearing, they’re listening . Where even the most ordinary moments feel extraordinary. It’s like meeting someone’s brain and, even if they’re totally different, it just makes sense. Five years later, I still love him, and it’s magical. Just magic.

The Long Distance Lover

I met my first love at 11 years old when I was living in the Philippines. We got “together” (in the way pre-teens can get together) at 12, but then broke up when my family moved to Ireland. At 15, we wrote LETTERS to each other and got back together again and stayed together for the next five years! Not a happy ending, though. He ended up cheating on me. I also have to add that I wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend because my parents were very strict, so it was a lot of sneaking around and asking my cousins for help so we could meet up.

The Check Yes Or No

My first love was a boy named John in elementary school. I thought he was the cutest boy in all of the fifth grade. I would try to play with him through recess and talk to him in class, but he just wouldn't give me the time of the day. One day, I was brave enough to write him a letter, literally a 'Dear John' letter. I asked one of his friends if they could give it to him and they did. I remember standing on the other side of the playground, waiting for him to read the letter, and I watched him take the letter and throw it in the garbage. I was devastated. My little 11-year-old heart was broken and I vowed to never speak or look at him ever again. Roughly 10 years later, a group of us contacted each other on Facebook and decided to meet up for a reunion. I saw John again for the first time after nearly a decade and we made up for lost time, catching up with each other and what we had been up to after high school. We dated briefly after that but it didn't work out. We were both in different places mentally. Although we are both parents now and just Facebook friends, I still consider him my first love and my first heartbreak.

The Brace-Locking Romance

My first love was this boy Josh who dated all my friends. It was a very PEN15 situation. Finally, it was my turn to be his girlfriend. So, one night when my father was sleeping, we snuck out to the roof of my apartment building and kissed — it was my first kiss. Of course, being that we were both 13 years old, when we kissed our braces locked and we couldn’t separate ourselves from each other. We were stuck together! By the time we separated, my dad and the super busted us on the rooftop. I was grounded for a week, but still snuck phone calls to my first love in the bathroom at night and sat with him at lunch until he dated someone else. I knew because he sent her a note in home room. Young love is hard!

The Short King

My first love was named Joey, and he lived around the corner from me. We grew up together and we always had a mutual flirtation. When we started middle school, he asked me out on a date… Finally! I had a growth spurt really early on and by the time I was 13, I was really tall. He hadn’t had his yet, and was four inches shorter than me. But that didn’t matter to me. When we went out on our first date, the usher made me buy an adult movie ticket for myself and a child ticket for him. Now, the reason why they made me buy the ticket is because they thought that I was his mother or older sibling because I was so much taller than him. Anyway, I was totally humiliated because it ruined the vibe. But, that didn’t stop us from dating for the next two years.

VCHA Aren't Trying to Be Anyone But Themselves

By Crystal Bell

Bella Hadid Served Bridgerton Realness at Cannes

By Donya Momenian

TWICE's Rise Hasn't Been Easy, But They Reached the Top Together

By Lai Frances

The Spoiled Salad Love

I had a date with my crush in junior high school. We were going to hang out at the local arcade. Before I went, I was eating dinner with my family and I shook a container of salad dressing and the whole thing exploded all over my hair and my outfit. I tried to shower and change my clothes but I still smelled like Italian salad dressing. The whole time we were out he was asking me if I smelled what he was smelling — I said no. Needless to say, we never went out again because I smelled like a salad on our first date.

Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email .

Want more from Teen Vogue ? Check this out:

55 Best First Date Questions to Keep The Conversation Interesting

By Sierra Lyons

Olivia Rodrigo & Louis Partridge Had a Date Night at a Tate McRae Concert

By Kara Nesvig

Filming for All of Us Are Dead Season 2 Has Been Delayed

By Sara Delgado

By Abby Webster

The Story of Sweatpants & Coffee
Terms Of Service
Comment Policy
Privacy Policy
Subscribe to S&C
The Shop at Sweatpants & Coffee
Write For Sweatpants & Coffee

Personal Essays | First Love

I’m not sure if I’m just making this up, but I feel I’ve heard it before: “you never recover from your first love.” Do you remember that feeling, falling in love for the first time? And how, when it ended, you were sure you’d never recover, never fall in love again? You were doomed to spend eternity alone, crying, heartbroken…and then some time passed, and you weren’t alone? You moved on? I remember.

It was late 1996 when I first saw him. I remember walking past him in the hall in middle school, and looking at him felt different from all of the other crushes I’d had in my 13-year-old life. There was something different and beautiful about him. His hair was dyed a reddish-pink and his blue eyes just destroyed me. I remember random things about when we first started dating, like how he came to my house and recorded my outgoing answering machine message with a snippet of “Spiderwebs,” by No Doubt playing in the background. I remember our first kiss. Our phone conversations and how neither of us would say goodbye, eventually leaving one of us to hang up on the other. I remember him taking a piece of the blue beanie he wore and tying it around my necklace. And I remember how devastated I was when he broke up with me the night before I left to Puerto Rico with my family for spring break.

We lost touch after that.

As high school went on, I dated others, always with him in the back of my mind. I remember feeling pangs of jealousy when I saw him in the hallways with new girlfriends or heard stories about him, missing all the fun we had together. I stuffed the feelings of love I had for him as far down as possible and just went on with my life. College began and I was in another relationship; I had moved on and life was just bumping along as it was supposed to. Facebook came out, I made an account, and when I saw he had friend requested me (one of my first there too!) I anxiously accepted. A message here and there and I was back in touch with my first love, and I was so excited to have a glimpse in to his life again. When I began my second relationship of my college years, it was oddly comforting to see he was watching. He’d send me messages asking why I was dating that new person (something I still wonder about myself…worst relationship ever), but something about getting his attention, no matter how small, meant so much. Years went by and we stayed in and out of touch until the fall of 2013.

It’s an impossible dream, to think that the one who got away will come back. So when he and I began talking daily, not just through Facebook but by text and phone, I found myself scared and confused by the overwhelming way all of my childhood feelings of love came flooding back. He asked if I would meet him for a date…obviously I said yes. I remember getting in the car and crying hysterically on my way to meet him. Something inside of me told me this would be magical yet wouldn’t last very long, and I suppose looking back, I was scared to lose him for a second time. How right my intuition was.

He called when I was around the block to let me know he was at the restaurant waiting for me. I nervously went over to him, and the first thing he said as he proceeded to shake my hand was, “Wow, you grew up well.” The night went smoothly, like no time had passed at all, and, before we parted ways, he apologized for breaking up with me as kids. From that night forward we began to talk daily for hours on end, driving to one another frequently. We talked about everything and anything. I was touched as he opened up to me about his battle with depression. I shared my experiences too, and we vowed to be there for one another should times ever get tough. As the months went on and we grew closer, we began talking about me coming to stay with him at the new apartment he was moving into, sharing ideas for meals we would make for dinner and other such things. One day in mid-March of 2014 he told me he was beginning to feel overwhelmed, and said he wanted to “quit his job, go on disability, and possibly have himself committed.” I promised that I would support his choice no matter what and would always be there, but, days later, he changed his tune and everything was fine. Looking back, I wish I had known this was a red flag.

There he was, my first love, not only back in my life but back with me. We were building a new relationship, different and better, planning adult things together. But something wasn’t right. He started sleeping more and wouldn’t communicate for a day here and there, and it lasted for a few weeks. I remember on Monday, April 7th, 2014, he and I spoke for hours and made plans to spend time together on Wednesday when we both had time after work. I was with my friend at the time and told him I didn’t understand why he was begging to just see me that night—should I just invite him here? How will he find us? I would give anything to go back to that day and just tell him how to get to me. When the conversation stopped, I turned to my friend and said, “Why didn’t you tell me I was so in love with him? I should just tell him, shouldn’t I?” Excited that I finally realized my feelings, my friend and I sat making plans for how to share my love and I went to sleep that night feeling content. No word the next day, as usual. I assumed my beautiful love was angry that I wasn’t able to see him the night before and since I would be seeing him the next day, why bother making contact until it came time to make plans, right? I spent the whole day nervously planning my outfit, how to word things. I was scared.

No word on Wednesday.

I sat down on my computer that night to see if he had posted on Facebook and was just ignoring me, and that’s when I saw “RIP little buddy.” Confused, I called my friend who suggested I type his name in to Google, to see if perhaps there had been an accident. When Google loaded and I saw the first article, “man identified in bridge jump,” I screamed and begged my friend to open the article and confirm what I knew was true: he had died by suicide.

Though we spoke, sometimes at length, about our mutual experiences with depression, and his behavior had been erratic at the end, he never shared his thoughts on dying or the plan I came to learn that he had been constructing for years. As the days after his suicide went on, I went in to shut down mode. Unable to breathe, think or function in general, I fell in to the absolute worst depression I had experienced.

From my years of therapy, I knew I couldn’t do this alone. I called a grief counselor and joined a support group for people that lost a loved one to suicide. I read up on Bipolar Disorder and tried to do things that eased my pain, such as writing him a letter every single day for a year. I released balloons, I made silly videos, I forced myself to socialize when all I wanted to do was be sucked in to oblivion. I orchestrated a walk team for the local Out of the Darkness suicide prevention initiative, and, with the help of his family, raised over $10,000 that was donated in his memory.

But it didn’t seem enough. Before he passed away, I told him of my dreams of working with mental illness and eventually starting my own non-profit. The most supportive, he once wrote in an email that it was a brilliant idea that would benefit the world, thanking me “in advance, for helping the human race.” After his suicide, I felt too weak to be able to help others but slowly found myself reaching out through peer support, finding others who were battling depression and helping a few stop the act of taking their life as they were in process. It felt amazing, but not enough. I had to keep true to my word, and one morning, in August of 2016, I decided to go back to school to earn my master’s in psychology and was accepted this spring, three days before the three year anniversary of his suicide, in to a top program for just that. Still actively participating in suicide prevention awareness, education, and advocacy, I have hosted my own walks, and recently became the moderator for a peer support group to those bereaved by suicide loss. I’ve become a public speaker for a large mental health organization in which I not only educate about mental illness and suicide, but share my own struggles. I’ve written and published articles—writing has always been my best catharsis—and even filmed for a project about my own experiences living with major depressive disorder. I plan on continuing grad school to get my Psy.D with a focus on Bipolar Disorder research with a sub-focus on suicidality and addiction. By actively pursuing these things I am, yes, furthering my career, but I am also helping myself find the light in the perpetual darkness that has followed me since my first love passed.

The best way I have found to get out of this place is to be a part of the solution. To keep fighting for my life and millions of others who, like myself, struggle not only with depression but the loss of a loved one to suicide. I believe that we can make something beautiful come from tragedy, and what better way to honor my first love’s life than to help others stay here? To stay here myself? He wanted to spend the rest of his life with me in it, and, for him, I plan to live the best life possible for the rest of mine.

Danielle Glick is a 34-year-old writer and student based out of Connecticut. Currently working towards her Master’s in Psychology at Sacred Heart University, she is very active about promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention in her community working diligently in advocacy and public education with groups such as AFSP and NAMI. Working on her first book, Danielle hopes to inspire others to share their story as to break down the stigmas that surround mental illness and addiction. She would be more than happy to hear from you – check her out on Instagram @Danielle_Glick or feel free to send her a message on Facebook.

Sign up to receive exclusive offers, fun content, and updates from Nanea!

Your confirmation email will arrive shortly after you sign up. Don't forget to check your spam or junk folder!

We keep your data private and share your data only with third parties that make this service possible. Read our full Privacy Policy here .

You are subscribed!

Facebook Comments

Guest Author

Personal Essay | Dear Thithie: a Love Letter to my Sister

Seen and Yet Invisible: My Thoughts on the Black Narrative

Personal Essay | Six Points of Shame

shamim irfan

exactly same like mine

Amie Leadingham, Master Certified Relationship Coach

“Before I fell in love, I almost blew it. I had an online date with a guy who said he worked long hours and traveled a lot. I thought to myself, what is the point of meeting? (I was really just scared.) So I picked up the phone and pretended I was sick and said I couldn’t meet him. Luckily, I opened up to a friend about the whole situation. She pointed out: Stop being narrow-minded or you’ll be single forever. I listened and trusted, and let go of all my judgments. A few hours later, like some crazy person, I picked up the phone and called the guy back... and told him I just got cold feet. Surprisingly, he still wanted to meet, and guess what? My friend was right! We’ve now been married five years and are going strong. Thank goodness I asked for help. It changed the direction of my entire life and led me on the path to become a relationship coach to help others not almost blow it, too!” - Amie Leadingham, Amie the Dating Coach , Master Certified Relationship Coach

Laurie-Anne King, Relationship Expert And Relationship Coach

“Well, I’ve been ‘boy crazy’ for as long as I can remember. My first crush was in kindergarten. I remember I thought he was so cool because he was a rebellious kid. My mom and old sister found a picture I drew of my crush and I kissing , and teased me mercilessly. But my first love came in high school. We were both freshmen and we learned and grew up a lot together. He was a really nice guy and we’ve remained friends. A decade after we stopped dating, he came to my wedding.” - Laurie-Anne King, Relationship Expert & Relationship Coach

Robert Sullivan, MHC, Psychotherapist In NYC

“The feeling of being in love for the first time, which I would say was during my college years, was probably the most freeing, exciting, and frightening experience — all at the same time. Being that I wasn’t always comfortable with my sexuality, it was the first time I fully allowed myself to experience those raw emotions and be my true self in a relationship. I think falling in love for the first time is always a very vulnerable, yet thrilling, experience, regardless of sexual orientation. However, I do think being a member of the LGBTQ community adds a unique layer to the experience (I identify as a gay male). One thing is for certain: You’re never the same after you’ve fallen in love.” - Robert Sullivan , MHC, Psychotherapist in NYC

Stef Safran, Matchmaking And Dating Expert

“Once upon a time in a place far, far away from dating apps and dating sites, I became friends with a guy I met during the first few weeks of freshman year of college. We became friends over the next few years and, come senior year, we were spending hours on the phone, and since he had transferred, spending time meeting each other’s friends and family. We took a trip to Washington, D.C. (well, he surprised me with this trip when I visited him), and he even had us stop along the way so I could be in several states at one time. How romantic! Alas, it was not meant to be, as the next step would mean that we would have to figure out a way of living closer to each other. He still wanted to go to graduate school, and I’d decided to try my luck at moving to Los Angeles. We went our separate ways. Over the years, we connected and became good friends, and I learned that we did want different things in life. However, I look back at all the memories and think of how fun and innocent it was back then, when a phone call meant a lot more and a visit wasn’t about how many likes I would get. Ah, young love!” - Stef Safran , matchmaking and dating expert

Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. (AKA “Dr. Romance”), Psychotherapist And Author

“The first time I fell in love, I was 19, and my dad had recently died, so I fell in love with a substitute for him. My first husband looked like my dad on the outside, but I didn’t realize he didn’t have my father’s character. It was a bad marriage. But when I met my husband, Richard, October 10, 1981, he was sitting outside, and the sun was glinting off his red hair — and I felt that ‘Wow!’ It turned out to be a lasting love at first sight . However, the truth is that I felt that ‘Wow!’ to one degree or another for many guys while I was single. With Richard, though, everything progressed pretty seamlessly from that first day until marriage. Now, after being married 36 years, we’re still happy and blessed.” - Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. (aka “Dr. Romance”), psychotherapist and author of How to be Happy Partners: Working it out Together

Tyler Turk, Founder Of Crated With Love

“I actually ended up marrying my first love! Michelle and I met in high school, but didn’t start dating until the summer after we had both graduated. After about three months, I knew she was ‘the one.’ To be honest, it was kind of an epiphanic moment in my life. Up until that point, I didn’t really know what my life trajectory would be (at least, it wasn’t panning out to what I thought it would be). After I met Michelle, I realized that she was my meaning in life. From the very start, she challenged me to become a better man, showed compassion and support whenever I needed it, and helped me understand what I truly wanted out of life. I can honestly say that I fell in love with my best friend. For me, Michelle is my definition of love, and I’m so happy I get to spend the rest of my life with her.” - Tyler Turk, Founder, Crated With Love , a monthly date night subscription box

Courtney Watson, LMFT And Sex Therapist

“I first fell in love in college... He was Southern, I was a Cali girl; he was a moderate Republican /conservative Democrat whereas I was a far-left liberal; and I was a feminist, he was a misogynist. Needless to say, when I first met him, I was not interested. But he was steady in his pursuit and, after a couple of years of friendship, he got me. I don’t know if I was more in love with him or more in love with the idea of conquering him , a conundrum I believe he questioned, as well. Regardless, there was undoubtedly love there. Ever the player, I think I realized I loved him when I actually wanted to settle down with him. I hadn’t committed to anyone I dated in college before, and I felt more love for him than I had for my high school sweetheart. My college love came home and met my family in California and I met his in Arkansas. With all our differences, our relationship was invigorating, exciting, and exhausting all at the same time. Love faded as the infatuation phase faded. We were together on and off for four years and, although it wasn’t perfect, he was my first love.” - Courtney Watson, LMFT and Sex Therapist, Doorway Therapeutic Services

Jeffrey Sumber, Psychotherapist And Author

“I first fell in love with Ericka in third grade. Aside from her incredible intelligence, beauty, and kindness, there was simply a chemistry between us that I barely understood at the time. Hearing her play Chopsticks on the piano made my heart bend. On her birthday, I gave her a nicely wrapped stack of my favorite Yankees baseball cards as a demonstration of my endless devotion. When she moved away to another state in fourth grade, I was devastated. It was an early lesson for me about the beauty and power of opening my heart to another, as well as the awareness that opening often comes with a closing that can feel harsh and unfair.” - Jeffrey Sumber, psychotherapist and author of Renew Your Wows: Seven Powerful Tools to Ignite the Spark and Transform Your Relationship

Jennifer Seiter, Relationship Expert

“The first time I fell in love, at 18, was with a man who was adventurous, outgoing, and kind of a jerk at times. In my younger years, I didn’t have foresight to realize this was not love at all. Anyone can fall in love if you are put in the right circumstances with the right person. Research tells us that if you go on adventures that are exciting [that you’ve never done before], you will attach those feelings to the person you are with and that is what happened to me.” – Jennifer Seiter, Relationship Expert and Co-Owner of ExBoyfriendRecovery.com

Shelby Forsythia, Intuitive Grief Guide And Podcast Host

“I’m a pansexual polyamorous cisgendered woman and Intuitive Grief Guide. I recognized my ‘love for all’ in high school when a handsome androgynous alumnus came to direct our theater production’s light board. While the other freshmen were gossiping about what gender they might be, I was admiring their posture, smile, and personality... It turns out that my first head-over-heels experience wasn’t meant to be (in the long run). They were married, and for a host of reasons, it didn't make sense for us to be together. But, after I revealed my feelings, they became a powerful influence in introducing me to the world beyond my rural high school — we experienced everything from Rocky Horror Picture Show to alternative spirituality to my first drink together and really got to enjoy each other’s company. My favorite memories of us consist of us sitting outside under their carport in the summer, just talking.” – Shelby Forsythia , Intuitive Grief Guide and host of the podcast Coming Back: Conversations on Life After Loss

David Bennett, Certified Counselor, Relationship Expert, And Creator Of “The Popular Man”

“The first time I fell in love was as a sophomore in high school. She had just moved to town when I was mowing yards as a summer job. Her dad asked if I could mow their yard, since the movers hadn’t delivered his lawnmower. She came out of the house while I was mowing, and I immediately fell for her. I talked to her at a dance a few months later, and she rejected me. When I started seeing one of her friends in the spring, this girl suddenly decided she liked me, so I (stupidly) broke it off with her friend. In the end, we only dated a few weeks because of the ‘friend drama’ all of this created.” – David Bennett , Certified Counselor, Relationship Expert, and Creator of The Popular Man website

Toni Coleman, LCSW, CMC, Consum-mate, Psychotherapist, Relationship Coach, And Divorce Mediator

“I was a 19-year-old summer camp counselor, teaching horseback riding and swimming. He was 19 and worked in the stable, caring for the horses and helping with all the heavy work. We had less than three months together, but after a few weeks, we found we clicked so easily. What I remember is laughing and playing together (riding, swimming, watermelon races, scavenger hunts, story-telling/singing by a huge camp fire). At night, we would meet, walking and talking in the woods by lantern (and moon) light. Summer ended, and we went our separate ways to colleges in other states. What I learned from him and another summer love a few years later, is that friendship, playfulness, and a shared sense of humor were relationship must-haves for me.” – Toni Coleman, LCSW, CMC, Consum-mate , Psychotherapist, Relationship Coach, and Divorce Mediator

Dr. Rachel Needle, Licensed Psychologist, Certified Sex Therapist , And The Co-Director Of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes

“The first time I fell in love was when I was 21. We had been friends since I was in high school and had some casual fun on and off for a few years when I was in college. It wasn’t until spending almost every day together the summer after I graduated college that we both fell head-over-heels in love. At the time, it was a feeling I was unfamiliar with: It felt amazing. As cliché as it sounds, I ‘felt butterflies’ and pure excitement each time I saw, talked to, or touched him for much of our eight-year relationship.” – Dr. Rachel Needle , Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist in West Palm Beach, FL, and the Co-Director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes

Jenna Ponaman, CPC, ELI-MP, Relationship Coach And Expert

“The first time I fell in love it was, as some might say, forbidden love. We were high school sweethearts — I was Jewish and he was Egyptian/Muslim. Neither of our parents approved of the idea. It was so bad that we dated in secret. At one point, he was in college while I was in my senior year of high school, and without notice, he broke up with me. Turned out he was growing into the next phase of his life while I was still living out my own chapter, but I didn’t realize that at the time. I was heartbroken, and felt like I would never be the same. Of course, I’m not the same, but I am who I am today partially from that experience. Wherever he is now, I thank him for the time we shared, and look forward to my journey moving forward.” – Jenna Ponaman, CPC, ELI-MP, Relationship Coach and Expert, Jenna Ponaman Coaching

Rhonda Milrad, LCSW, Relationship Therapist & Founder Of Relationup

“The first time I fell in love, it was with an emotionally unavailable man. I was head-over-heels. I do believe he loved me, but was avoidant in his attachment style. He was constantly keeping me at arm’s length or pushing me away once he let me get close. Our connection was primarily [physical] — he didn’t integrate me into his life or introduce me to his friends — and kept himself emotionally distant. We were a cocoon couple that was holed up from the rest of the world. It eventually became painful and unfulfilling, and I ended it.” – Rhonda Milrad, LCSW, Relationship Therapist & Founder of online relationship community Relationup

Dr. Joe Kort, Psychotherapist And Co-Founder Of The Modern Sex Therapy Institutes' LGBTQIA Affirmative Therapy Certification Program

“The first time I fell in love, I remember that the songs I enjoyed sounded like I heard them for the first time. I tend to be an anxious person, and that was completely gone and I felt calm and at peace. I wanted to be around him all the time. And when I could not be around him, I collected things that were his to remind me of him all the time, to feel close to him.” – Dr. Joe Kort , a Michigan-based Psychotherapist and Co-founder of the Modern Sex Therapy Institutes ’ LGBTQIA Affirmative Therapy Certification Program

Kailen Rosenberg, Celebrity Love Architect And Matchmaker, And The Founder Of “The Lodge Social Club” Dating App

“Joe was charismatic, passionate, and dynamic. Whew! He was the lead in our high school play and our star athlete — he was gorgeous and confident... Apparently, he, too, had a crush on someone: me. He excitedly, nervously, and confidently explained how he had noticed me for months, asking around our large school who I was, just waiting for the right moment…

Well, he was my first EVERYTHING! My first deep love, first dozen roses, first deep soulful kiss, first...! All of it, every moment, every experience, was magical. And every bit of our next few years together were magic, until he went abroad for college and I went on to find even more of myself. To this day, Joe and I are dear friends, and I adore his beautiful wife and daughters. He is an amazing man, and I am blessed to have had him as my FIRST everything!” – Kailen Rosenberg , renowned celebrity Love Architect and Matchmaker, and the Founder of The Lodge Social Club dating app

Rana Mancini Cavanaugh, Author

“I actually married my first love… from elementary school! The first time I feel in love with him — the man who’s my now my hubs — I didn’t realize it; I realized it when I broke up with him. When we finally managed to get back together, it truly felt like all was right in the world, and I could barely keep my giddiness under control. And, as a middle schooler, I remember feeling this way (of course, even as a fourth grader when he was someone else’s boyfriend, my inexperienced self remembers feeling like she wasn’t his type — turns out I was right!). Funny thing is, he is STILL that little boy who annoys me at times! People don’t change all that much...” – Rana Mancini Cavanaugh, ChicTravelingMama.net, and Author of The Unfinished Business of You and Me

Linda Joyce, Relationship Expert And Astrologer

“I fell in love for the first time when I was 18, in Italian class. As we talked after class, there was this instant recognition. I felt understood, and I had barely said a word. On our first date, he (John) asked me if I thought we’d get married — so he felt it, too. I said, “Chissà?” (“Who knows?”) When he kissed me goodnight, I could have stayed in his arms for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, love is not enough. There were obstacles, like my parents, and I took off to fly for Pan Am — my dream job . I have often thought of John, even though he passed away many years ago of a heart attack. The truth is, you never stop loving your first love.” – Linda Joyce , Relationship Expert and Astrologer

From the above, you can see that the way relationship experts first fell in love may be similar to how you did so, or the complete opposite. In any case, their stories are inspiring, to say the least.

Learning through the Library

Education is the heart of a teacher librarian's practice as they use good quality literature to build literacies and facilitate learning.

It was the moment I fell in love…

I fell in love for the first time with a boy named James Winthrop Frayne II. I was 11 years old and madly in love. He was 16 years old, tall and very smart, with red hair, green eyes and a slightly crooked smile.

Unfortunately for me, James or Jim, as I lovingly referred to him, was a character in my favourite book series “Trixie Belden”. In fact, my love for Jim Frayne was so embedded into my mind that I ended up marrying another lovely redhead (he says honey-blond) who also happened to have James in his name. And whilst I was falling in love with Jim Frayne…

I fell in love with reading books.

Now when i say i love books, i say this as an adult who reads on a daily basis. .

I have never spent a day in my life as far as I can remember without reading or food. In fact reading and eating are interwoven rather closely in my life. I have eaten my way through many books and I have read my way through many meals. Even now as a mother of three, dinner table conversations are still second place to a book. So for me, books are a need, like food and water. I indulge that need with classics and new authors; old favourites and popular series. But series fiction holds a dear spot in my heart. As a child, series fiction gave me Jim and Trixie, Harry and Hermoine, Frank and Joe, Nancy and Bess, Laura Ingalls, Anne Shirley, Lucy, Pollyanna, Heidi, George and Timmy, Darryl and Sally. As an adult series fiction brought me Doc Scarpetta, Tempe Brennan, Ayla of no people, Falco, Jamie and Claire plus many others into my life. Whilst I have loved the classics and other stand alone titles, series fiction brought me the greatest joy.

{silence} {crickets} {crashing cups of tea and chairs} {my career as a future TL fading into the sunset}

Yes, as an adult who is also a fledgling teacher librarian, I am voicing out loud my deep and ardent affection for serial stories. Now, once everyone has picked themselves off the floor and righted their tea cups; I will explain my thoughts.

I acknowledge that series fiction, whether for adults or children, has often been regarded as literary rubbish. Often viewed as the ‘Mills & Boon’ of literature, series fiction is derided for its repetitive structure, predictive plot and lack of character development (Westfahl, 2018). Some would even argue that its presence on bookshelves is a betrayal of literary values (Westfahl, 2018). But these people are snobs! Books do not always have to be among the lexicons of literature. Books, especially fiction books, should be able to satisfy cognitive, emotional and the developmental needs of the reader and series fiction definitely addresses the emotional needs of both fledging and proficient readers.

But before I elaborate deeply on how series fiction changed my life; I would like to clarify a few technical issues. There are three main types of series fiction. Firstly, there is the progressive series ; where a longer narrative is broken down into shorter novels and the sequence of titles is important to the reader and storyline (Wooldridge, 2015). Then there are the successive series , where the plot repeats itself continuously and lastly, the accidental variety where the author reluctantly writes prequels and sequels to comfort the crazies.

Rowling’s Harry Potter , Marsden’s Tomorrow when the war began, Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and Wilder’s Little house books are some examples of progressive series . These book concatenations had a definite end which saw the characters grow and develop along with the reader. I was one of those readers that grew up with Ellie and Harry. I devoured John Marsden’s series in a matter of months. My poor high school teacher librarian was continuously pestered to get the rest of the series once I got hold of the first one. Poor man! Lucky for him, by the time I discovered Harry, I had a job and a library membership! I was 13 when the first HP book was released and as Harry grew up, so did I. Harry, Hermoine and Ron were more than just book characters, for me they were friends.

Successive series examples include the famous Diary of a wimpy kid , Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden, Babysitters club, Animorphs, Famous Five, Secret Seven, and Bobbsey Twins. These series have a foreseeable story patterns with comforting characters and obvious plots (Wooldridge, 2015). Whilst these books may seem formulaic (they are!), it is their predictability that makes them popular. Series fiction offers children constancy and security in a world full of upheaval (Wooldridge, 2015). Children develop a sense of trust, an affection with the character and possibly even a relationship with the author (Wooldridge, 2015). So while they themselves grow up through the tumultuous years of puberty, series fiction with its predictability offers an escape, a playdate with an old friend.

I developed this type of relationship with Enid Blyton after being introduced to the Famous Five . The sheer joy received from reading that series led me to trust her writing style and with it I discovered Secret Seven, 5 find outers and it, Mallory Towers, Twins at St Claire’s, Wishing Chair, Enchanted Tree, Amelia Jane and so many more. For an awkward immigrant kid with poor social skills, these books allowed me to escape to places where magic and friendship abounded. My daughter is also a big Blyton fan. Every time she picks up a book authored by Blyton, I know that she will most likely gain the same level of emotional satisfaction that I did and so develop her love of reading. There is also a great deal of enjoyment to share with her the books of my childhood.

The last main type of series fiction is the accidental variety . These are books that the author only planned on one, and then somehow their popularity has meant sequels and prequels were soon requested by adoring fans. George M Martin’s Game of Thrones is such a series, spawning an TV run that lasted several years and ended before the last book has even been published. Diana Gabaldan’s Outlander series is currently stalled at the near pu blication of its 9th book and only time will tell if the tenth book will ever eventuate (especially since the first book was published almost 20 years ago!). Other accidental series include Baum’s Wizard of Oz, Norton’s The Borrowers and P. L. Traver’s Mary Poppins. Because these series were accidental and not planned, their storylines do not always make sense and can appear a bit jerky at times. Sometimes they abruptly end if the author or readers lose interest.

Series fiction has been around for a long time. As much as some literary snobs would hate to admit, there are some current classics that used to be serials. Dicken’s Pickwick Papers and another seven of his other titles as well as Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes started off as series but then were condensed into a novel several reprints later (McGill-Franzen & Ward, 2018). Even further back to the folklore stories such as mythical twelve tasks of Hercules ; the thousand and one stories of Scherazade and adventures of the Round table are varieties of series fiction. So to all those literary snobs that believe series fiction are rubbish… well… pffft to you.

If you think about it from a practical viewpoint it makes sense if you have a recipe that works to use it! Edward Strathmeyer had such a recipe back in the boom days of series fiction . He planned outlines of books and then organised cheap ghost writers to write the stories, and oh boy… did it work! The whole Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys production is based upon this magical recipe (Westfahl, 2018). The recipe had some key ingredients . Characters are kept the same age ; have the same small town holistic upbringing; go on amazing adventures, travel the world but always come home safely to a loving family . These books allowed children and teens (mainly aimed at Caucausian middle class Americans) an avenue of escape from their groundhog day lives. As these book characters all suffered from perennial Peter Pan syndrome, they have never lost their appeal even in its trillionth reprint nearly ninety years after the first copy (Finnian, 2013). I will mention here that whilst racial demographics and family structure has evolved significantly since the first Stratemeyer book was published in 1927, their popularity has not changed. The plot pattern remains the same but the settings and dilemmas have evolved with the times. Obviously the recipe still works!

So what is the benefit of series fiction? Besides emotional satisfaction, series fiction allows the reader to build their literacy skills. McGill-Franzen & Ward (2018) believes that the predictable plots assist in developing word recognition which in turn boosts vocabulary and reading confidence. The formulaic story pattern allows the reader to easily identify any explicit reading conventions present. This expanded vocabulary and confidence then allows the reader to successfully use their increased literacy skills in other areas.

Series fiction makes it simple for readers to identify titles they are willing to read because they identify with the author . Reluctant readers are more likely to pick a book they are familiar with by the same author; than a title by a new author. They are also more likely to try other titles by that author because of the relationship that was previously established. A great example is John Flanagan, author of the fabulous Ranger’s apprentice series. Teens who enjoy that series often move onto the Royal Ranger series as well as Brotherband because they trust the author . The same can be said for Rick Riordan and the plethora of books he has published.

The impact of series fiction is clear. Children and teens who read more books end up being more adults who read . Remember, committed adult readers were hooked onto reading as children by series fiction (McGill-Franzen & Ward, 2018). And whilst reading of insightful novels that provokes critical thinking complements a wide reading program, it cannot replace it. Pushing the classics onto children and teens before they are ready is unlikely to work. But offering them an opportunity to connect with an author or a series they can engage with may put them onto the pathway towards literature. After all, children do age out of one series and into another (McGill-Franzen & Ward, 2018). They grow from Blyton’s Magic Faraway tree to Rodda’s Rowan of Rin, to Rowling’s Harry Potter to Marsden’s Tomorrow when the war began to Davis’ Falco , Cornwall’s Scarpetta and Reichs’ Bones and Hume’s Arthur and Merlin series and eventually they reach the classics. Why do I know that? Cos I did just that.

I fell in love with reading as a child. I have stayed in love with reading as an adult. Are you in love with reading? If so, when did it happen?

Finnan, Robert (2013). “Unofficial Nancy Drew Home Page” . Retrieved 14th March 2020.

McGill-Franzen, A. & Ward, N. (2018). To develop proficiency and engagement, give series books to novice readers . In D. Wooten, B. Cullinan, L. Liang & R. Allington (Eds). Children’s literature in the reading program: Engaging young readers in the 21st century , (5th ed., pp. 153-168). Retrieved from Proquest Ebook Central.

Westfahl, G. (1999-2018). Series fiction . World of Westfahl . Retrieved from https://www.sfsite.com/gary/ww-ref-series01.htm

Woolridge, T. (2015). Series fiction and Sallly Rippin’s Billie B Brown series: The ‘Most important continuous reading children do on their own’. mETAphor, 3, 30-35. Retrieved from https://www.englishteacher.com.au/

Narrative Essay Sample: “My First Love”

Love is in the air, love is everywhere!

First feelings are always special, new, unexplored, coupled with childish innocence and a pure vision of the world.

It may sound ridiculous, but the fist time I felt that I’m alive, was the moment I felt in love for the first time. It was long time ago, at the village of my grandparents. I was 7-year-old boy and parents brought me to grandma for the whole summer. She was a 7-year-old girl, a granddaughter of my grandmother’s friend. We lived nearby and grandmothers often visited each other. The first time I saw her, I decided that she was the most perfect human being on the earth. The only presence of her nearby made my feel happy and delighted. Despite of my young age, I’ve understood that the world is made of love and it’s one of reasons that inspires mankind to live and create. I even have written my first poem:

The moment I wake up I think of love The purity and gloss About you and come across This light is you I love you!

We spent much time together, we had endless themes to talk about! In the garden we had a special place, where we dreamed and talked. One day I climbed on the biggest apple tree to pick ripe apples for her and cut out hearts on them. This basket of love apples should be my love confession. While I was doing this, I didn’t mention that she came and was sitting and watching me for a while. I felt that she hugged me from the back and we continued sitting side-by-side and eating those love apples. And at the end we kissed. It was funny and unusually. From those time we haven’t kissed, but kept warm relations. When I returned to my hometown, we wrote each other more than a year, but one day she didn’t answer.

I like to pick this memory from my pocket on a nasty day, and life turns bright. The memories are so deep and clear, as I’m still a little boy, hanging around the gardens and singing the beautiful song about love.

This sample is a demonstration of how an essay should be written. Our writer created this essay in order to show in what way we write narrative essays. If you don’t want to write your essay, you can use our help. We assist students from all over the world. The writer can be easily contacted through the chat, so if you have any questions about the order, you can ask them.

Our fast essay writing service offers reasonable prices, so anyone can afford buying papers on our site. You can change your low grades into high grades simply by getting our assistance. So, if you are completely lost in your writing and can’t struggle with it anymore, place an order right now!

Leave your comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest articles

Relationships

The Early Stages of Falling in Love

How to stay centered while falling in love, despite the inner chaos you feel..

Posted March 20, 2012 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

The early stages of falling in love can be summarized into three feelings: euphoria, personal endangerment, and exhaustion due to the first two.
The euphoric feeling of falling in love is biological and hormone-based.
Falling in love creates vulnerability and disrupts routine, which can makes one feel personally endangered.
One should not rush to seal the relationship just to ease the anxiety of falling in love. Instead, it's best to accept the feeling.

There's nothing quite as exhilarating as the early stages of a romantic relationship . Just the thought that you may have found your one-and-only can be so thrilling. But, the early stages of falling in love can be as frustrating as they are wonderful. Your new love life may consume your energy, focus, and time to the point where everything else going on in your life may feel like a rude intrusion. You can't stop thinking about your lover. You get up and go to sleep obsessing about the relationship and what your future will look like together.

To some of you, this reaction to love may seem overboard. But many of you know firsthand how falling in love can turn you into an obsessed, needy, and insecure person for a time. You don't have to have emotional issues from the past to feel this way—although if you do, this stage will be particularly difficult.

Remember, the saying is not staying balanced in love, it is falling in love . If you are in the early stages of falling in love right now, and you feel a little crazy, don't worry: You kind of are. You are under the influence of hormones that are making you feel, all at once, euphoric, endangered, and exhausted. Let's call these the Three Es of falling in love .

Researcher Donatella Marazziti of the University of Pisa, Italy helps us to understand the euphoria we feel in the early stages of romantic love. She says it is more than two hearts igniting when people fall in love; their hormones ignite as well. The nerve transmitters adrenaline and phenylethylamine , or PEA (also present in chocolate) increase when two people are attracted to each other and put them in emotional overdrive. Additionally, the relaxation, feel-good hormone serotonin lowers, causing you to obsess about your lover and consistently reflect back on the romantic times spent with him or her.

Falling in love produces a biological state that is a similar high to being on cocaine. More interestingly, Marazziti discovered that falling in love also alters testosterone levels in men and women. This is the male sex hormone that makes men hunters and gatherers and more able than women to be sexual without an emotional commitment. Increased testosterone levels in women during the early stages of romantic love make them more sexual and aggressive. Decreased testosterone levels in men make them more emotional and receptive at this time.

This finding makes me smile. I have heard more than one man say through the years, "What happened to her sex drive? When we first went out, she was sexually wild. I couldn't keep up with her. She tricked me." If you have felt this way about a female lover, now you know that it was her hormones that made her into a girl gone wild.

Endangerment

Why can love's early stages make you feel personally endangered as well? First, the euphoria you feel can disorganize you. You are adding a dating relationship to your normal, busy routine. Your normal responsibilities at work and home may fall to the wayside as you put more energy into solidifying your love relationship. This can make you more anxious.

Also, loving asks you to lower your defenses and loosen up your personal boundaries so that you can merge your needs and desires with those of your lover. This process can be threatening and make you feel unsafe.

Nonetheless, this is the making of a strong, healthy relationship attachment . It takes time to trust each other and to know that this attachment will not hurt you. No wonder we can feel anxious and unsafe when we first fall in love. There's much to gain, and to lose. The fear you feel is palpable. You may unconsciously create emotional issues and dramas to give voice, and make tangible, the endangerment you feel.

With all of the hormone changes and fears going on inside of you, it is no wonder you may feel exhausted in the early stages of falling in love. I've heard several people say that they can't wait until the honeymoon period is over so that they can get some rest. It's no wonder that some people may rush to seal the relationship deal, just to put an end to these uncomfortable feelings.

Knowledge Is Power

Hardy individuals arm themselves with knowledge. They approach new experiences as a chance to learn something new about themselves (the hardy attitude of challenge), and learn what they can to cope effectively with stressful situations (the hardy attitude of control).

Indeed, the early stages of falling in love are stressful. The following recommendations can help you to navigate the falling in love stage more smoothly, so that you can treasure this very special time in your life.

Enjoy the high, but don't lose yourself in it.
Keep your schedule, no matter how much you want to throw it over.
Acknowledge you are under the influence of some powerful hormones.
Get the nutrition , rest, and relaxation that you need to stay physically, emotionally, and mentally sound.
When concerns and fears come into your mind about your lover, ask yourself if you are just trying to discharge the anxiety that you feel about the unknown, so that you can stop a personal drama in its track.
Don't rush to seal the relationship just because you can't stand the anxiety of having to go through the stages of falling in love. Accept your anxiety and learn to work with it.
Research shows that falling in love also makes you more creative . So work out that anxiety and fear through some creative activities.
Don't lower your defenses, personal boundaries, and expectations to the extent that you are denying what you really desire and need. This never works out well. You want to build an authentic relationship attachment, rather than one based on fantasy alone.

Deborah Khoshaba, Psy.D ., is a Clinical Psychologist and Director of Training and Development for the Hardiness Institute, Inc., Irvine, California, since 1989.

Find a Therapist
Find a Treatment Center
Find a Psychiatrist
Find a Support Group
Find Online Therapy
United States
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Portland, OR
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Washington, DC
Asperger's
Bipolar Disorder
Chronic Pain
Eating Disorders
Passive Aggression
Personality
Goal Setting
Positive Psychology
Stopping Smoking
Low Sexual Desire
Child Development
Self Tests NEW
Therapy Center
Diagnosis Dictionary
Types of Therapy

At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that threatens to derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.

Emotional Intelligence
Gaslighting
Affective Forecasting
Neuroscience

Young attractive woman flirting with a man on the street.Flirty smiling woman looking back on a hand...

In every gooey rom-com, the moment when two people first meet, they often find themselves falling in love. With a slow-motion shot and an inspirational song playing in the background, two perfect strangers instantly become one hot and heavy couple. Of course, no matter how many romantic movies you've watched, or how many times you've been in love yourself, it's natural to wonder, what does love at first sight feel like ?

From daydreaming about your wedding day to literally drooling over how cute someone is, there's no shortage of ways to know you're in love . Whether all your fears seem to slip away or if you feel totally calm and confident when you started talking to them, love at first sight can mean something different to everyone. Though an instant spark sounds like the height of romance, love follows its own timeline. Sometimes, you know you're in love the second you lock eyes, and other times, you don't know you're in love until months or even years later. Whatever the case, relationships unfold in their own time .

Elite Daily asked 15 people what love at first sight felt like to them, and what they said is so, so real.

Multicultural love and relationships concept. Loving and embracing interracial couple indoor vintage...

From the moment our eyes met, it was love at first sight— I immediately knew that they were the one for me.

First time I saw my husband it was like I felt the depth, length and importance of our entire relationship all at once. It was very overwhelming. Everyone else I dated had a shallowness feeling to our relationship like I could feel the end before it even began.

It felt like time stood still and I was wrapped in bliss. I wanted nothing more than to be with him. We were engaged a few months later.

— MissChokeCherry

It feels like you got slapped in the face by emotions that make no sense, especially if you're not an emotional person.

— CarrieScoggins

The feeling of true happiness, in your heart and in your pants.

— TeddybearChill

Like you found someone with whom you can talk about the silliest subjects and they'd still want to kiss you.

— walkdownstairs

I just know when I saw her I felt like ' Who is that?!' It felt like I’d known her all my life and like she was meant to be in my life.

— two_goes_there

Fell in love at first sight with my girlfriend now when I first saw her nearly nine years ago. When I saw her, I remember this feeling of familiarity, like I had known her or felt comfortable with her already, and I had never met her before, even at this point, I had only seen her across the office and it was a few hours before we actually met.

— OverthinkingMachine

"After a 10 year relationship ended, I went on vacation and saw a girl working at a pizza joint. She was mildly flirty (or just being nice, I couldn't judge at that point). Got a slice the next day, she remembered my name, we made some jokes, got a slice the last day I was there and again more smiles and little jokes. But man, the second I saw her it was like I was 15 again. I literally felt like I was in love in 30 seconds.

— thedisliked23

When he spoke there was something eerily calming and familiar about him. I'm not really into metaphysical constructs but something in the pit of my stomach told me that this guy was something special, perhaps even the one.

— MassMacro

I'd trade a paycheck to have that sensation again. I can't express it in words, but the feeling was so intense, it was like Zeus sent a thunderbolt up me. I had to use meditative breathing techniques to calm down after seeing her.

— SupplimentalDevice

Something hit me what I saw this guy. It wasn't his looks, just a huge instant connection when we just locked eyes for a while. It was like we already knew each other.

— SeekingBurgundy

It was a warm and safe feeling, almost like we knew each other for years. We got married 20 days after meeting.

If you've ever done a long haul flight to see someone you care about and haven't seen in a while, it's like that, but the long haul flight was your entire life up to that point. It's an inexplicable sense of excitement and weird feeling that you've known this person forever, and everything so far has just been the tediously long journey to meet them in the arrivals lounge.

— throwaway_swifty

It's almost as if you're meeting someone from a past life. I was transfixed, almost stuck by the confusing mixture of emotions but weirdly comforted by them — all at the same time.

— bagforthebadger

Whether you lock eyes across a crowded room and just know, or you instantly feel connected with a new cutie, love at first sight can be amazing. Of course, everyone is different. And when it comes to falling in love, you get to write your own story on your own timeline.

Share full article

Supported by

The First Time

Caitriona Balfe: The First Time I Left Home (and Fell in Love)

By Caitriona Balfe

Oct. 3, 2017

Through a cloud of Gauloises smoke, four men silently watched me as I made my way through the empty cafe to a table by the window. The waitress threw down a menu and stood, one hip cocked, impatiently waiting for my order.

I nervously scanned the handwritten menu, looking for anything familiar.

“Jambon,” I stammered, my brain registering a flicker of recognition from a long-since-forgotten French class. “Jambon, s’il vous plait,” I ventured. The waitress sauntered off, and within minutes, served me what was to be my plat du jour, for every “jour” that week. A ham sandwich.

Oh, and did I mention, I hate ham?

It all began with a crumpled sheet of instructions and an invitation. I was 19 and going to live abroad for the first time — and not just anywhere, but in Paris. The city of love and culture, of Yves Saint Laurent, Gertrude Stein and the Louvre. It was about as far away from my tiny village in Ireland as I could imagine. I dreamed of strolling along the Seine, having intense conversations with moody young Frenchmen named Pierre. Of leaving red lipstick stains on wine glasses and casually extinguishing cigarette butts on coffee saucers while listening to lovers quarrel on cafe verandas. In short, I’d watched far too many French films. It was going to be exactly like that, right?

Pretty soon it was clear that my journey from sheltered Irish country girl to French temptress would have a long way to go. Step one was just to make it out of the airport.

To say I was an unseasoned traveler was an understatement. In fact, this was only my third time out of Ireland. But I had always dreamed of traveling the world, and so when a model scout had come to Dublin three weeks previously and offered me a contract, I jumped at the chance. At the time, I was a first-year theater student, and modeled on the side for extra spending money. And now here I was, lost in the vast expanse of Charles de Gaulle airport, my excitement quickly turning to anxiety.

After circling the concourse multiple times, I approached an official-looking woman and asked for directions to the bus station. She rattled off instructions in French and eventually noticing my blank stare, briskly marched me to an exit. It took me forever to find the right bus, but somehow, an hour later, I found myself ringing the doorbell of the Ford Models agency.

My first month was much harder than I expected. The constant stream of rejection from castings started to wear me down. I got lost constantly. No one understood my halting, embarrassing attempts at speaking French. The beautiful apartment the agency had placed me in was owned and occupied by a rather creepy Portuguese man, who was far too eager to befriend his young tenants. I would sneak in at the end of a long day’s work, feet blistered, and try to make it into my room before he could insist I join him and his friends for dinner.

As usual, things never turn out quite the way we expect. One autumn morning, racked with homesickness, I strolled toward Les Halles and stood in the shadow of the St.-Eustache church. I turned, and a familiar name caught my eye: Quigley’s Point — an Irish pub! As the door swung open, a chorus of shouts and laughter enveloped me and lured me inside. My total immersion in French culture could start again tomorrow, but right now ordering a beer and a packet of crisps was just what I needed.

It was the voice that I first noticed. The thick Mayo brogue and quick laugh. He was standing to my right, and he had kind eyes and punky, bleached-blonde hair. He wasn’t the moody Pierre of my fantasies, but at least we could talk to each other. He had been living in Paris for four years and spoke fluent French, so there was that at least. He encouraged me to get away from my landlord, and soon I found my own place in the Marais with an Australian girl.

After six months, my French improved to the point that Parisian shopkeepers stopped pretending they didn’t speak English; content that I had made a good enough effort in their own language, they would speak to me in mine, no matter how much I persisted in French. I found a hidden spot on the Île de la Cité where I would pass hours on weekend mornings reading and watching people stroll along the banks of the Seine. I walked through the halls of the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Pompidou and Musée Rodin in awe. My modeling work had finally picked up. I was growing up and learning about the world.

There is a moment in your story when you can pinpoint the exact time you fell in love, be it with a place or a person. I can remember both like it was yesterday. I had just left a casting where I had, again, been humiliatingly rejected in front of 20 of my peers. Choking back tears I had rushed out of the building and ran to a nearby park hoping to find a secluded spot. My eyes burning, willing myself to get it together, I looked up to the sky hoping for some divine comfort and suddenly everything stopped.

I realized I was surrounded by the most beautiful square, Place des Vosges. With its rose-hued walls, the square softly glowed in the sunlight and radiated calm and beauty. My sobs subsided, and I was hit with the most over powering sense of gratitude. I forgot about the casting director who had just reduced me to nothing. I wasn’t nothing. I was a young Irish woman, and I was here, realizing a dream and living in the most beautiful city in the world.

My parallel love story — the one with my Irish boyfriend — was solidified one night with a dreamy kiss outside the Panthéon. I was madly in love with a man and a city, both inextricably intertwined. My boyfriend, however, had itchy feet. He longed to be somewhere quiet and rural. I followed him to the Alps, but I soon felt caged in by the mountains and the trees. I wanted loud markets, bustling streets. We argued and argued, one person’s dreams tugging against the other’s.

I headed back to Paris. He stayed in the mountains. Eventually, though, I would move on — to London, New York, Los Angeles and then Glasgow, each with their own magic and beauty.

But on certain sunny days, I am always brought back to my bench in Place des Vosges, and my heart swells for a beat. It’s true, you never forget your first love, and, for me, that will always be Paris.

Caitriona Balfe The actress is now starring in the Starz series “Outlander.”

Arts and Culture Across Europe

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is a treasure trove of art and design. Here’s one besotted visitor’s plan for taking it all in .

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s co-artistic directors have put together a challenging debut season . But many visitors come to Stratford-upon-Avon seeking something more traditional.

The Venice Biennale, the art world’s most prestigious exhibition, opened recently to some fanfare, some criticism and a number of protests . Here’s a look at some of the standouts from the 2024 edition.

New productions of “Macbeth” and “Hamlet” in Paris follow a French tradition of adapting familiar works . The results are innovative, and sometimes cryptic.

At a retrospective of John Singer Sargent’s portraits in London, where the American expatriate fled after creating a scandal in Paris, clothes offer both armor and self-expression .

Essay Samples
College Essay
Writing Tools
Writing guide

↑ Return to College Essay

Essay on love at first sight

Is it true that love happens at first sight? Many people do not believe in love at first sight. On the other hand, some individual feels that they fell in love the moment they had a chance to look deep into each other’s eyes. That first sight, that first moment, that first silent exchange of feelings through the eyes changed their entire life.

Perhaps it is possible to fall in love across a crowded room as the old song says. However, again, it is the eyes that hold the primary attraction. This has been shown over the ages. Romeo and Juliet also gazed into each other’s eyes while making their plans. There are many such cases, real and imagined, which are written about. Studies of the eyes when they see someone they either feel very fond of or are in love with show that the pupils widen significantly.

There have been many studies on the topic of love at first sight. According to a recent study done by University of Chicago, it can be easily determined if it is love or lust just, by the way, the people stare and their angle of stare. With the help of eye tracking, we can know if the two people are digging for love or bodies easily. Unromantic people would call it only a lust while those who believe in romance probably fantasize about this phenomenon.

They say eyes are a window into the soul. So when two people gaze at each other for the first time, what are the chances that an instant connection is established? One that does not require the crutches of words or expressions. Silence turns into a language and words become unnecessary. Is it possible today? The questions beg attention because this modern age and era are ruled by the cynic mind- one that is suspicious, questions ulterior motives, looks for doubts and secrets in the eyes. Can love at first sight still spark interest between two individuals? That depends on how a person sees the world or how willing he or she is to set themselves up for heartbreak. Love at first sight is like jumping off a cliff- not knowing whether the person will ever surface again or be pulled under for the rest of their lives. This risk, the rush of adrenaline and the forbiddenness of Love at First Sight is what makes it all the more appealing for a romantic.

Some may call it a rubbish and claim love can only be gained through getting to know each other. In order to be for someone in love you got to know all about their interests, morals and characters. On the other side, men and women love to share their stories how they met someone somewhere, and all it took was one moment, one stare, and they fell in love.

The debate is same as which come first, egg or the hen. It shall go on probably forever. Love at first sight or lust, no matter which way you look at this, it is still interesting to read stories and watch movies made on this topic.

Follow Us on Social Media

Get more free essays

Send via email

Most useful resources for students:.

Free Essays Download
Writing Tools List
Proofreading Services
Universities Rating

Contributors Bio

Find more useful services for students

Free plagiarism check, professional editing, online tutoring, free grammar check.

Free Samples
Premium Essays
Editing Services Editing Proofreading Rewriting
Extra Tools Essay Topic Generator Thesis Generator Citation Generator GPA Calculator Study Guides Donate Paper
Essay Writing Help
About Us About Us Testimonials FAQ
Studentshare
The First Time I Felt in Love

The First Time I Felt in Love - Essay Example

Subject: English
Type: Essay
Level: College
Pages: 3 (750 words)
Downloads: 2
Author: emma77

Extract of sample "The First Time I Felt in Love"

Joe was talking to me but I could not hear a word he was saying. I just looked at the girl he was with, and could not believe my eyes. Eventually he introduced her to me. Her name was Alexandra and she had long, light brown hair that she kept tucking behind her ear in a childish way, as if she wanted to concentrate more on our conversation. She had kind eyes, with an unusual golden brown color that matched her hair, and a dreamy look. Alexandra seemed like an exotic name to me. I wondered where her family came from, to give her such a beautiful name to match her stunning appearance.

She was almost exactly the same age as Joe and me, but somehow she seemed older. I don’t remember how Joe introduced her, but I do remember how she looked at me kindly and pulled me into the entrance hall, out of the pouring rain. Her touch was like fire on my elbow, and I was mesmerized by her beautiful smile. If there is such a thing as love at first sight, then surely this was it. Joe seemed not to notice how amazing this girl was, and certainly she was not at all proud or arrogant, as so many attractive girls tend to be.

Her skin was extremely pale, and she had long, slender fingers that moved gracefully when she talked. She was about a head shorter than me, and very slim. Something about her reminded me of a deer, or a gazelle, because she moved very lightly on her feet. She wore quite ordinary clothes, and I noticed that her sneakers were well worn, and decidedly casual in style. Normally I prefer girls who wear smart clothes and makeup, but Alexandra was different. Her face looked perfectly natural, and every expression that passed over her features seemed to fit perfectly with her whole being.

When she smiled, her eyes smiled too, and she had a slight twist to the mouth that suggested she knew more than she was saying, but there was nothing bad in that. This incredible truthfulness is perhaps her most startling quality. After a while Joe had to leave for a sports session, and I could not believe my luck that I was now alone with Alexandra. The overwhelming feeling that swept over me was anxiety. I desperately wanted to make a good impression, but somehow it was difficult to speak. My mouth was dry and I could hardly think of anything to say.

I didn’t want to make a fool of myself, and so I said very little at first. Fortunately she was more confident and she started asking questions about me. We discovered that our birthdays were in the same month, and she told me that she was moving into my school because her father had just been posted to a new job here. Her voice was gentle, with a light, and happy tone, but still quite serious at the same time. We went to the local cafe, at my suggestion, and I chose a spot in the corner where I could sit opposite her and look into her eyes.

The fear began to disappear and instead I could feel a warmth inside my body, as if a big heater had been turned on in the room, to remove all traces of the dampness outside. She made me feel calm and strong, and I think this is because we talked so naturally together, like best friends from the very first moment. I watched her drink a large cup of milky coffee. The cup seemed huge and heavy in her hand, and I immediately felt protective towards her. On that day of our first meeting I hardly dared hope that she would agree to be my girlfriend, and so I just sat there drinking in the loveliness of her smile, and

if i were the head girl of my school
Cited: 0 times
Copy Citation Citation is copied Copy Citation Citation is copied Copy Citation Citation is copied

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The First Time I Felt in Love

Popular culture and twighlight, comparative analysis of two poems, ould gamlet love, love is submission and sacrifice, media literacy: titanic, world literature, love - the moments of magic and tragedy.

TERMS & CONDITIONS
PRIVACY POLICY
COOKIES POLICY

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .

I fell in love on the internet

I fell in love on the internet. And I fell really hard.

A typical love story usually starts when boy meets girl, they get to know each other, spend time together, get emotionally attached, and then fall in love. Ours, however, wasn’t at all typical. Perhaps it was the “new normal.”

There is a certain level of “superficial” that surrounds the idea of a long-distance relationship. The pandemic had its way of bringing people together through the internet; it had helped in sustaining old relationships while creating new ones. As the popularity of Bumble and Tinder significantly increased over the course of the quarantine, I still felt that these weren’t for me — I was very traditional when it came to relationships. I couldn’t even grasp the idea of falling in love with someone you’ve never met.

But guess what? Joke’s on me.

I was an airplane ride away from him—he was a Manila Boy, I was the typical probinsyana. We both knew that seas and islands divided us, but the 657-kilometer distance never felt like a hindrance; we got to know each other as if we were just a step apart. We believed that one day we would close that distance. One day we would hold each other in our arms, and one day we would make it.

Like a typical Gen Z couple in a pandemic, we bonded over chats and video calls, online games and virtual dates, Spotify playlists, and movie sessions. It was utterly surprising how things unfolded and how we developed from being playmates in Call of Duty, to becoming the best of friends, and eventually reaching that “dating” stage.

One day, it hit me. I was in love. Initially, I thought the idea was so farfetched, like it was so impossible to develop genuine feelings for a person on my laptop screen. Maybe I fell for the man because he was so ideal. As a daddy’s girl, I saw my papa in him. He loved his family, he was God-fearing, intelligent, hardworking, kind, faithful, and as biased as this may sound, he had the cutest smile.

All the lovey-dovey aside, we had our fair share of obstacles, from the mere fact that we were in an LDR, to handling our love language, defining our label, trying to communicate effectively, solving conflicts, and a whole lot more. It was a constant battle trying to make the other person feel loved and appreciated. With everything, the first thing we had to do every day was to choose to be with each other—no matter what.

We had the next 10 years or so planned out: finishing college, going to law school, taking and passing the Bar together, plus a hundred and one more things. At one point, our goals and values were so alike; it was as if we were really each other’s missing piece. I felt that my stars had aligned for me to get to know this man. I felt that destiny did something to bring us together. I felt so secure that this person could actually be my person. Simply put, everything just felt so right.

Until one day, it didn’t. We woke up and it just didn’t work anymore. We still had each other’s heart, but it was too painful to hold on any further. Several months shy from the one-year mark, we had to let each other go.

When we decided to call it quits, he eventually cut off all ties and communication with me. It shattered me. I felt so helpless drowning in a sea of my own thoughts and tears. I felt like I would live to regret all my mistakes and wrong decisions. It broke me so much that I was left questioning whether I would be capable of ever loving someone as much again.

Now, all that’s left are mere memories of the laughter and tears we shared, which will forever be ingrained in my heart. This wasn’t my first love — but it was the first real one. It taught me what and how love should be. But my heart will continue to hope for a second chance: maybe not for us, but for him and for me.

Maybe there was a reason we didn’t work out. Maybe we had to focus and prioritize other things over us. Maybe we weren’t ready for each other. Maybe it wasn’t the right time yet. It pains me that maybe there would never be a right time for us—but what I know is that he will always be my favorite maybe. He will always be the maybe that I would think about every time I stare at the sky. He will always be the maybe that I am so sure of. He will always be the maybe that I will choose in a heartbeat. He will always be my maybe.

I look forward to the day when I can finally see him up close with no screens as barriers. While I can no longer embrace him if I do see him, I just want to look him in the eye, and that in itself would feel so much like a dream. One day, I may find him along the streets of España, or bump into him somewhere along Ortigas or Taft. Someday, when fate allows.

If there’s one statement that would sum everything up, it would probably be a Bible verse that I shared with him on Valentine’s Day: Philippians 1:3ʍ“I thank my God every time I remember you.” No matter how good or bad things were, he would always be one of my life’s greatest blessings and most painful heartbreaks.

He will always have my heart. Now, maybe just from afar, and even farther than before. As Bruno Major puts it, “Here’s to you, the most beautiful thing that I have never seen.”

I fell in love on the internet. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

MG, 18, is an incoming freshman at the De La Salle University College of Business.

Visit inqyoungblood.com.ph

Stories from under-30s

Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with our editorial standards. FULL DISCLAIMER

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more, please click this link.

I Fell in Love with Hope

37 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 6

Chapters 7-13

Chapters 14-20

Chapters 21-26

Chapters 27-33

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

What role does autonomy play in the novel, and what is the relationship between chronic illness and autonomy? Use examples from the text to support your statements.

Create your own hit list of at least five items you would “steal” in the sense that Sam and his friends steal items on their hit list. With each item on your list, write two sentences explaining what life steals from you (or your friends), and how this item replaces that.

What does the sun symbolize in the novel? How do different characters embody elements of the sun?

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Featured Collections

Coming-of-Age Journeys

View Collection

LGBTQ Literature

Sexual Harassment & Violence

Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love

I Fell in Love With Hope Summary, Characters and Themes

“I Fell in Love with Hope” is a young adult contemporary romance novel by Lancali.

It tells the story of a girl who, while hospitalized, falls in love with a boy who ultimately takes his own life. The book follows her grief and her journey with a group of terminally ill friends who embrace life with vibrancy despite their circumstances. It’s a heart-wrenching story about love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.

The novel opens with a harrowing scene: Sam, the narrator, stands on a bridge with his lover, also named Sam, facing the agonizing moment of his lover’s suicide. This profound loss leaves Sam scarred, swearing off love forever. His heart is not the only thing broken; Sam isn’t an ordinary person.

He’s a personified concept born from the hospital itself, a secret he desperately held while trying to save his lover.

Now trapped in the hospital as a patient, Sam finds kinship with a group of vibrant teenagers, all battling their own chronic illnesses: Neo, whose eating disorder masks deeper wounds; Sony, the group’s fearless leader despite her damaged lung; and Coeur (“C”), struggling with a failing heart.

United by their circumstances, they become a rebellious family, finding solace and defiance in stealing from the hospital and the nearby gas station.

When Hikari, a new patient struggling with depression and self-harm, arrives, she disrupts Sam’s carefully constructed distance.

The two connect over a shared love of Shakespeare, adopting the roles of Hamlet and Yorick. As Hikari is absorbed into their group, their grand plan of escaping the hospital begins to take shape.

Their first attempt is thwarted by Sam’s lingering trauma, causing him to retreat and hurt Hikari in the process.

Neo, ever the voice of tough love, forces Sam to confront his past if he wants to save those he loves in the present. Sam resolves to protect Hikari, but is met with her sudden disappearance. He finds her self-harming and intervenes, an act that ultimately brings focus back to Hikari.

Fate, however, takes a cruel turn. Coeur gets urgent news of a heart transplant, while Sony’s failing lung gives out.

The group executes a daring escape, getting matching tattoos and reveling in a stolen night of freedom at the beach. But the joy is short-lived; Sony’s condition forces a return and she passes away shortly after.

Coeur’s long-awaited surgery ends in tragedy as well. Neo, finally confronting his abusive father, also succumbs to his illness.

Hikari spirals further into depression, her own suicide attempts repeatedly stopped by Sam. Only when Neo intervenes during her final attempt on the bridge does she begin to accept the possibility of healing.

As her mental health improves and her discharge nears, Sam takes her to the hospital garden and finally reveals his true nature.

In a selfless act of love, he gives up his physical form, ensuring Hikari’s future and making her promise to return to the hospital before her own death, reminding her that love is always worth the pain.

I Fell in Love With Hope Summary, Characters and Themes

The most complex character in the novel, Sam is the embodiment of the hopes and dreams of patients within the hospital. His prior love and the devastation of that loss have made him cynical and afraid of connection.

Yet, his role as “hope” compels him to bond with those in the hospital, offering solace and a counterpoint to their cynicism.

This inner conflict, between his disillusionment and the inherent optimism he represents, drives much of his narrative. His relationship with Hikari highlights this struggle, as he repeatedly tries to push her away out of fear, only to be drawn right back the need to protect her.

Deeply scarred by depression and self-harm, Hikari carries an air of quiet desperation.

Her cynicism and self-destructive tendencies create a barrier between her and others, yet when she connects with Sam, her fiery spirit emerges. Her journey is one of learning to accept love and support, both from Sam and the others.

It is a painful battle, and her struggle with self-acceptance is the central emotional arc of the story.

A vibrant, defiant leader with a damaged body, Sony exudes an infectious, rebellious energy. Despite her physical limitations, she fights for the freedom they all lack and pushes others to embrace their potential.

Her death stands in stark contrast to her vibrant attitude, highlighting the unpredictable nature of their illnesses and the ever-present fragility of life.

Coeur represents the gentle soul of the group, radiating kindness and acceptance. While he valiantly faces his failing heart, he also grapples with complex emotions surrounding Neo.

Their relationship is left somewhat ambiguous, but Coeur’s love for Neo adds a layer of vulnerability to his character, demonstrating that even with an ailing heart, he’s capable of deep devotion.

Neo battles with an eating disorder that serves as a stark manifestation of his trauma at the hands of an abusive father.

His writing reveals a beautiful, tortured soul, craving freedom from his internal demons. Neo’s quiet strength and resilience, along with the tough love he offers Sam, make him a compelling figure.

Even as he confronts his abuser, his illness progresses tragically, showcasing the complexities of healing and confronting deeply ingrained harm.

The Complex and Messy Nature of Grief

Through Sam’s tragic opening loss and the subsequent deaths faced by the group, “I Fell in Love with Hope” paints a raw and unflinching picture of grief. It isn’t linear, nor is it an emotion easily overcome.

Sam’s initial reaction is to seal his heart, while Hikari turns inward toward self-destruction.

Neo’s grief manifests as anger. The book doesn’t offer simple solutions, instead showing how each person processes loss differently, making mistakes, spiraling, and occasionally finding moments of respite amongst the pain.

This honest portrayal reminds us that grief is a relentless companion that shapes us, and healing ultimately comes from finding ways to live alongside it rather than trying to erase it.

The Transformative Power of Found Family

At the heart of the novel lies the unwavering bond between Sam, Hikari, Sony, Coeur, and Neo.

They aren’t just a group of sick teenagers; they become each other’s lifeline. Their collective acts of rebellion, whether stealing snacks or escaping for one glorious night, serve less as defiance towards the hospital and more as an act of defiance against their illnesses having the final say in their lives.

These shared experiences create a fierce love and loyalty.

Their found family offers understanding and respite from the bleakness of their circumstances. The loss of each member is devastating, yet the strength they drew from one another is what allows the survivors to keep moving forward.

The Inescapable Reality of Living with Chronic Illness

The very setting of the story, a hospital, speaks volumes. The relentless presence of medical equipment, doctors, and procedures forms an ever-present backdrop for the characters.

Their illnesses aren’t problems to be fixed, but conditions they must grapple with daily. From medications to failed surgeries and worsening prognoses, the young characters embody the struggle of living in bodies that betray them. Yet, their moments of joy and rebellion shine all the brighter amidst this reality.

The novel forces a confrontation with the fact that even with chronic illness, there is space for love, connection, and even fleeting moments of ‘normal’ teenage life.

Sharing is Caring!

A team of Editors at Books That Slay.

Passionate | Curious | Permanent Bibliophiles

Have I Fallen Out of Love or Am I Depressed?

Or what to consider when you've lost some interest in your partner

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a professor at Yeshiva University’s clinical psychology doctoral program.

Verywell Mind / Getty

Am I Falling Out of Love…or Is it a Sign of Depression?

Do People Fall Out of Love When They're Depressed?
Can Depression Make You Think You're Not in Love?

Overlapping Symptoms

Is depression a reason to end a relationship, seeking professional help, self-reflection and communication, coping strategies.

Every relationship has a natural ebb and flow, but if you're stuck in what feels like an endless low point, you might wonder, "Am I falling out of love , or am I depressed?" The answer to that question can sometimes be much more complicated than expected.

"People often fall out of love when they are depressed because they no longer feel connected to themselves and their partner," says licensed therapist Abbey Sangmeister, MSEd, LPC, ACS . "Depression creates a fog around us that does not allow us to see or feel clearly, which can cause us to feel that no one loves us, we feel or don’t have the energy to love and give, or feel overall numb and disconnected."

Your love life and your emotions are intricately interconnected, which is why it's sometimes challenging to tell whether you're experiencing changes in how you feel about your partner or if it might be something more serious like depression.

Plus, depression can affect your life and relationships in complex ways. Problems in your romantic relationships can sometimes be a source of deep sadness or even feelings of depression. So how can you tell if what you are feeling means you're no longer in love or if it's a symptom of depression (or a combination of the two)?

Understanding the difference between the two is vital, not only for the health of your relationship but for your own mental health. After all, the sooner you recognize the signs of depression, the sooner you can get help and find relief.

At a Glance

Falling out of love with someone can be a painful, heartbreaking experience. Feeling depressed can also affect how you feel about your relationships since it causes symptoms like loss of interest, sadness, irritability, and social withdrawal. Keep reading to get advice from experts on why falling out of love can be mistaken for depression, and whether depression is ever a reason to walk away from a relationship.

So, what does falling out of love actually feel like? Psychologists have introduced various frameworks to help define and categorize love . One of the best-known theories is Robert Sternberg's triangular theory of love , which conceptualizes love as having three main components: passion, intimacy, and commitment.

When you think about what it feels like to "fall out of love," what you might actually be describing is the loss of passion. It's the gradual decline in the intense feelings of excitement, attraction, and physical chemistry that are the hallmarks of the early stages of a relationship .

It's normal for those feelings to lessen over time and the other two components of Sternberg's theory, intimacy and commitment, to take center stage. However, it’s a more serious sign when all three of these elements start to disappear.

Common signs that you might be falling out of love include:

Not enjoying spending time with your partner
Feeling irritated by your partner's presence, quirks, and habits
Losing interest in what's going on in your partner's life
Not feeling attracted to them anymore
Not sharing details of your life or talking about how you are feeling
Feeling happier when you are not with them
Thinking about being alone or with someone else

Here's where it gets complicated— symptoms of depression can contribute to some of these feelings. You might feel irritated with your partner because, well, you just feel more irritated in general lately. Or you might not want to spend time with them because being around other people takes more energy than you can give right now.

"People who are depressed can fall out of love like anyone else. Depression may not directly cause someone to fall out of love, but depression is complex and can impact thinking, mood, self-esteem, energy, desire, and more," explains Susan Trotter, PhD , a relationship expert and coach. Trotter also notes that this often results in more conflict, fewer shared activities, less intimacy, and greater isolation.

Susan Trotter, PhD

When these things are occurring, they can, of course, affect how we feel about someone and they can change how we interact in and approach a relationship. This can subsequently lead someone to fall out of love–or at least think and feel like they have fallen out of love.

Figuring out what's really going on means you'll need to take a closer look at how you're feeling and decide whether it represents a change in how you view your relationship or a change in the state of your mental health. In either case, figuring out the cause can help you better decide how to tackle the problem, whether that means seeing a couples therapist, seeking treatment for depression, or breaking up with your partner.

Do People Fall Out of Love When They're Depressed?

Depression might not be the reason why you fall out of love with someone, but it can play a major part in how you feel about yourself, your partner, and your relationship.

Depression can impact many different areas of your life, including how you feel about others, your emotions, and your relationships. After all, it’s hard to feel connected with other people (your partner included) when you’re feeling isolated, sad, and hopeless.

It can also be challenging to feel many of the emotions that normally happen in a happy, healthy relationship , like joy, excitement, and anticipation. It might not necessarily mean the relationship has changed, but how you feel about it may have shifted, making it much harder to appreciate the good things.

Social withdrawal is another common symptom of depression. When you are depressed, you may find yourself pulling away from your partner. This makes it tough to maintain feelings of intimacy and closeness.

Because you feel less connected to your partner, it's easy to see why this might seem a lot like falling out of love.

Depression doesn't always cause a person to fall out of love, but the way it manifests can create problems in a relationship. You might feel more irritable and short-tempered around your partner. You might not feel like doing things you used to enjoy, so you might turn down opportunities to spend time together.

How your partner responds to these symptoms can also damage your relationship. They might interpret your reactions as rejection or start to behave in ways that undermine the closeness that you once shared.

However, it's important to remember that depression and love are complex. Your own experience of depression is unique, and how it affects your relationship can depend on a wide variety of factors. Depression can make you feel like you're falling out of love, but communicating your needs, seeing support, and getting professional help can help you navigate these challenges without jeopardizing your relationship.

Can Depression Make You Think You're Not in Love?

Unfortunately, depression can make you believe a lot of things that aren’t really true. It might tell you that you deserve to be miserable or that you don’t deserve to be loved. It might even make you think that you aren’t really in love at all.

According to therapist and coach Christina Granahan, LICSW , the symptoms of depression, particularly the numbing and sense of isolation that accompanies depression, can cause people to lose touch with feelings of love and connection with their partner. "Depression makes us think a lot of things that aren’t necessarily true. It can make us feel alone, like we don’t belong, like we’re unloved, or a victim of someone else," she notes.

Some characteristics of depression that might make you think you aren’t really in love at all include:

A Loss of Interest

A loss of interest in things that you used to enjoy or that used to be important to you is one of the hallmark symptoms of depression. Such disinterest is common when you find yourself drifting away from your partner. So if you find yourself losing interest in spending time with your partner, it’s normal to wonder if the root of this sudden loss of interest says more about your state of mind or the state of your relationship.

Changes in How You See Yourself

Depression also contributes to issues with poor self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness. You might find yourself wondering what your partner sees in you. Or you might start to think that you don't deserve their attention. You might even feel like you are burdening them. To cope, you might push them away or even try to convince yourself that you aren't in love with them at all.

Negative Thinking

Depression also leads to distorted, negative thoughts that can make symptoms worse and exacerbate issues in your relationship. Small things that used to not bother you suddenly start to seem much worse than they really are.

You might find yourself misinterpreting your partner's actions, jumping to conclusions , or engaging in all-or-nothing thinking . Such thoughts ultimately undermine your connection and may cause you to think that you aren't in love with your partner like you were before.

Reduced Libido

Depression can significantly impact things like energy levels and libido, but changes in your relationship can have a similar effect. The social withdrawal that often accompanies depression can lead to a lower desire for physical closeness with your partner. If your partner doesn’t understand how this might be a sign of depression, they might interpret this as a loss of interest in the relationship as well.

Even more confusing is the fact that depression and falling out of love can share some remarkably similar symptoms. Common feelings you might experience with both include:

Sadness or emptiness
Emotional numbness
Losing interest in spending time together
Having a hard time concentrating
Sleep disturbances
Feelings of guilt or anger
Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness

Researchers have even found that the emotions people experience at the end of a relationship are very similar to clinical depression. So it's no wonder that feeling depressed can make you think you're relationship might be on the rocks (and vice versa).

Symptoms are more persistent

Symptoms affect many areas of life

Loss of interest in many activities

Feelings may come and go

Symptoms are focused specifically on your partner

Loss of interest in your relationship but not in other enjoyable activities

Sangmeister notes that leaving a relationship may be the right choice if your partner is contributing to feelings of depression. Before doing so, however, she suggests talking to a licensed mental health professional. This can help clarify your decision, explore ways to work on the relationship, and make clear decisions that are right for your life and well-being.

"It is important to distinguish whether your mental health–and in this case, depression–is making you want to end a relationship or if you are struggling because of the relationship," Trotter says. Ending it may be your best option if you're struggling because of the relationship. But if it's your depression causing these feelings, it's important to dig deeper into your feelings and symptoms.

"Ending a good relationship could be self-sabotaging and self-destructive if it’s actually a good relationship, and there are many things you can do to stabilize your depression, such as therapy, medication, groups, and more," Trotter explains.

If you do decide to end a relationship, it's important to remember that breaking up can also trigger additional feelings of depression and grief. Both experiences are connected to painful life events—including the end of important relationships in your life.

It's normal to experience things like sadness, loneliness , and emotional distress when a relationship is over. You'll need to go through a period of adjustment where you allow yourself to process the experience and take steps to heal. Having social support is important, but you should also reach out to a mental health professional if you are experiencing symptoms of depression or prolonged grief following a breakup.

If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, it's important to talk to a licensed mental health professional. They can help you better understand your emotional experience, including whether it is really depression–or a sign that your relationship is in trouble.

"If depression is significantly impacting you and your relationship, the first step is to seek treatment, which might include therapy and medication to help alleviate symptoms and help you create better strategies for managing your depression," Trotter suggests.

A therapist can evaluate your symptoms and give you perspective on the emotional states you are experiencing. Therapy can also help you understand how depression might be affecting your connection with your partner.

In addition to treating depression, couples therapy can also be beneficial. By working with a therapist, your partner can learn more about what you are experiencing, and you can strengthen your connection, build greater intimacy , and resolve conflicts more effectively.

If you’re struggling to tell if you’re actually falling out of love or if you might be depressed, it’s important to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. As you engage in this self-reflection, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you feel like you and your partner don't share the same emotional connection you once had?
Are you avoiding spending time with your partner because your differences seem too great to overcome?
Have you stopped planning your future together?
Have you stopped caring about the things that matter to your partner?
Do the unique traits and behaviors that used to seem cute, quirky, and charming suddenly seem like red flags or deal-breakers ?
Do you feel happier when you are alone than when you are together?

If you answered yes to many of these questions, there's a good chance that your feelings for your partner have changed. This doesn't mean that you aren't also dealing with symptoms of depression, but it does indicate that it might be time to evaluate your relationship and think about what steps you want to take next.

If you answered no to many or most of these questions, it might be because your recent moods and feelings are linked to symptoms of depression more than a sudden shift in how you feel about your partner.

In either case, communication is critical. Talk to your partner about what’s going on with you emotionally so you can make a plan for your next steps. This might include finding ways to rebuild your connection by spending more time together and talking more often. It might involve you seeking professional treatment for your depression. If the relationship is worth holding on to, it may also mean talking to a couples therapist.

If you’re struggling with your love life or experiencing symptoms of depression (or both), finding ways to cope with these challenges is essential.

With good treatment, effective communication, and motivation, couples can enjoy a happy and healthy relationship even when one of the partners has depression.

Relationships change over time, and it isn't uncommon for people to lose romantic feelings and experience breakups. The key is knowing how to handle these feelings, knowing when it's worth it to try to salvage a relationship, and when to move on.

Communicate: Discussing what you’re experiencing with your partner is an important first step. "It is also important for you to talk with your partner about what you’re experiencing so that they can better understand it," Trotter says.
Care for yourself : Make sure that you are doing things to support your emotional well-being. " Self-care is critically important and taking even small steps to improve connection and intimacy will also help to alleviate the overwhelming feeling of disconnection," Trotter suggests. Even taking small daily steps like eating balanced meals, getting plenty of rest, and treating yourself kindly can help you feel better and gain more perspective on your situation.
Reconnect : If you’ve decided to try to fall back in love, start taking steps toward rebuilding your connection with your partner. Remind yourself of their good qualities, take time to appreciate them, and start spending more time together.
Consider couples therapy : Talking to a relationship professional can also help. "Working to improve healthy communication is also important, and couples therapy may be an effective way to help you with that," says Trotter.

Keep in Mind

If you're worried that you've fallen out of love, it can be hard to decode what you're experiencing if you suspect you might also be depressed. Are you depressed because of the relationship, or are symptoms of depression affecting your relationship in negative ways?

It's important to work with a mental health professional to sort out your feelings, build a greater awareness of what you are experiencing, and make the right decision about how to cope, Granahan suggests.

She also says getting help and support to deal with depression is what matters most. "Some of us might need to stay in a healthy, life-giving relationship as part of the healing. Enlist the help of trusted allies–including professionals–to help you make these decisions if you aren't sure, but healing comes first."

Sorokowski P, Sorokowska A, Karwowski M, et al. Universality of the triangular theory of love: Adaptation and psychometric properties of the triangular love scale in 25 countries . The Journal of Sex Research . 2021;58(1):106-115. doi:10.1080/00224499.2020.1787318

Sheets VL. Passion for life: Self-expansion and passionate love across the life span . Journal of Social and Personal Relationships . 2014;31(7):958-974. doi:10.1177/0265407513515618

Sharabi LL, Delaney AL, Knobloch LK. In their own words: How clinical depression affects romantic relationships . Journal of Social and Personal Relationships . 2016;33(4):421-448. doi:10.1177/0265407515578820

National Institute of Mental Health. Depression .

Verhallen AM, Renken RJ, Marsman JC, Ter Horst GJ. Romantic relationship breakup: An experimental model to study effects of stress on depression (-like) symptoms . PLoS ONE . 2019;14(5):e0217320. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217320

Field T. Romantic breakup distress, betrayal and heartbreak: A review . Int J Behav Res Psychol . 2017;5(2):217-225. doi:10.19070/2332-3000-1700038

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

My boyfriend is 42 years older - we met when he delivered a kebab

An 18-year-old, whose boyfriend is 42 years her senior, has shared how the pair first set eyes on one another.

Nikeisha Lightfoot, 18, first met her partner Dimitrios Fotis, 60, when he delivered her kebab to her door in 2022.

The lovebirds from Great Yarmouth said they 'connected instantly' and their bond has only grown stronger over time.

Despite facing criticism due to the age gap, the pair haven't let trolls get them down – and insist their love is real.

'I wish people knew that love has no age limit,' Nikeisha, an entrepreneur, said.

'We fell in love with each other – there is no catch to it.

'We instantly connected when we first met and spoke for a while.

'We went away together to get to know each other more.

'Older men are more experienced.'

For the happy couple, it all started when personal trainer, Dimitrios, was working as a delivery driver, and delivered Nikeisha a takeaway dinner.

Sharing the story in a video on TikTok with her 60,000 followers, she explained that she was ordering food most nights due to working two jobs, one as a cleaner, and one in a Chinese restaurant.

Nikeisha said: 'I used to go home and get a takeaway because it would be so late by the time I'd get back, and I'd just get it from the local one around the corner.

'He [Dimitrios] used to deliver it every night.

'I used to say to him on the delivery note can you call me when you're outside because it was late and I had younger siblings, and I was on the top floor.

'So he would call me when he was outside, I'd go out and get the kebab, and then from there – I never used to see him before – we just kept bumping into each other in the street.'

The two would say hello when they passed each other in public, but one evening when going to the local shop, Nikeisha spotted Dimitrios waiting nearby for a delivery.

She hadn't been feeling well and said she was in her pyjamas and looking 'rough' when Dimitrios asked her how she was feeling, and recommended she make a lemon tea to feel better.

Having forgotten how to make the tea the way Dimitrios advised, she decided to text him.

She said: 'He reminded me, and we literally just spoke from there.

'We spoke for a while, we changed to WhatsApp, and then we went away to get to know each other a little bit – and that's two years gone.

'Now we're best mates and loving life. What a story!'

Several people flooded the comment section with support for the couple, dubbing them 'really cute' and 'genuine'.

'I love this ❤️I would love to meet someone in such a beautiful, genuine way. Makes me think of those short stories in films like Love Actually,' one quipped.

A second chimed: 'Omg my favourite love story. You guys are the cutest couple.'

'I'm 33 and my now husband is 61! we just got married last Saturday, and had our 12th anniversary on Tuesday just gone,' a third added.

One follower added: 'Love is love. you both vibe. Just treat each other well and ignore any hate. most people are jealous and lonely.'

Another said: 'What a lovely story that's how love is meant to be.'

My boyfriend is 42 years older - we met when he delivered a kebab

'Bridgerton' Season 3 Gives Us The Complexity We've Been Waiting For

Guest Writer

Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in the third season opener of Netflix's "Bridgerton."

The carriage wheels are spinning as they return the fashionable set to their London homes, delivery boys are selling the latest copy of Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, and a new set of young ladies prepares to enter society. In other words, after two long years, “ Bridgerton ” has returned with the first four episodes of its much-anticipated third season (helmed by new showrunner Jess Brownell).

Since the trailer premiered in April, the chemistry between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington ( Nicola Coughlan ) has set the internet ablaze as fans prepared themselves for the friends-to-lovers trope with a side of a “She’s All That”-esque makeover. And this season does not disappoint. It may even exceed fans’ already-high expectations.

While I loved the fake dating storyline of Daphne and Simon in Season 1 and Anthony and Kate’s evolution from enemies to lovers in Season 2, the rom-com tropes in Season 3 are even better.

This season follows the tradition of the first two and opens with a Bridgerton — the sparkling Francesca (Hannah Dodd) — making her debut. However, despite its similar construct, this season is heightened in almost every way. From the period-inspired but mostly fantastical costumes (lots of ombre, embellishments and layered fabrics) to the whimsical, floral-filled sets to the complicated interpersonal drama, everything fans love about “Bridgerton” has been exaggerated to create a fuller, more colorful, bejeweled world. A world that is clearly not meant to be a rendition of the past or a mirror of our present moment, but a place to live in some imaginary in-between space.

In this place, the events of last season have changed everyone. The most obvious transformation is Colin, who has returned from another adventure abroad looking muscular and tan, and, as his brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) describes him, “sturdy.” Colin has a new confidence and hair that rivals that of Shondaland favorite Dr. McDreamy. His new social ease helps him glide into rooms and flirt with countless groups of debutantes. But this new façade will not help him with Penelope, his oldest friend, who is still enraged after overhearing him tell a group of men at the end of last season that he would never court her. The new armor he has donned to reenter society will also make it even harder for Colin to process the possibility that he may have feelings for Penelope that go beyond friendship.

The second big transformation occurs on screen after Penelope has decided she must marry to escape her mother’s household. To achieve any hope of accomplishing this, Penelope realizes she must step out of the shadows and safety of the walls of ballrooms she has hidden alongside. She replaces her citrus wardrobe with stunning gowns in blue and green, gowns that flatter her figure, showcase her fair complexion and highlight her stunning eyes.

In a Laney Boggs-esque moment — which has been teased in the trailer — Penelope descends the staircase at Lady Danbury’s ball, the momentous first ball of the season (fans of “ Queen Charlotte ” know exactly what it entailed for Lady Danbury to achieve this honor), to reveal her new aesthetic. However, Penelope’s social anxiety and awkwardness quickly make it clear that, to secure a husband, changing her appearance is not enough. She will have to embody the confidence and strength of her alter ego, Lady Whistledown.

Cue a gentleman — it should surprise no one that the duty-driven man is Colin — with an offer to help Penelope do so. The next three episodes explore the complications that are bound to ensue after his help works and she captures the interest of the eccentric but very eligible Lord Debling (Sam Phillips).

What makes this season so special is that it’s not only Colin and Penelope who are grappling with their identities. Every character is wrestling with change, with the growing pains that come from both necessary and self-imposed evolution and the internal conflict that is often the byproduct of denying a part of oneself.

Violet Bridgerton is navigating a new world in which Kate (Simone Ashley) has returned (much to fans’ delight) and is now the viscountess. Kate is supposed to step into Violet’s role, and Violet is expected to move away from her children and into the dowager house. With two daughters out at the same time, Violet is also trying to avoid the maternal overstepping that she believes contributed to Anthony almost marrying the wrong person last year and Eloise’s dangerous friendship (and possibly more) with Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch), the boy from the printshop. However, Violet will learn that stepping back may not always be the right thing, because children, even grown ones, sometimes need their mothers’ guidance. Also, as fans of “Queen Charlotte” know, Violet’s garden is “in bloom,” and she may be ready to open herself up to a new suitor, especially if that man has impeccable timing when picking up a dropped glove and has a gift for conversation.

Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in the first episode of Season 3 of "Bridgerton."

Other Bridgertons are also going through a time of great change. Benedict is trying to figure out who he is after giving up art, Francesca is hoping to find a husband and move into her own, quieter household, and Eloise is still recovering from the relationship that put her family at risk and the shock of discovering Penelope’s lies. Even though Eloise is trying to conform to society’s expectations — she wears more ornate dresses and ties bows in her hair — and befriends the unlikeliest of people — Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) — she still must grapple with her belief system and the truth that her former best friend is Lady Whistledown.

Though some change is reactionary, others are necessary because of the rules that regulate the ton. Portia Featherington (Polly Walker), Alice (Emma Naomi) and Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) must face the pressures of the crown and the implications of the rules imposed to ensure that “the lines of succession run smoothly.”

All this interpersonal conflict is also taking place within a paradoxical system that simultaneously “feeds on the nouveau” and rejects social change. This tension sets up Season 3 to have a level of complexity that Seasons 1 and 2 lacked.

Last May, I wrote about the beautiful depth of “Queen Charlotte,” the Bridgerton spinoff that explores the realities and consequences of marriage and the ways women (Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton) fight for agency within the constraints that society has imposed upon them. There was a complexity in “Queen Charlotte” that — as much as I have enjoyed watching “Bridgerton” — was missing from the first two seasons of the show. But its absence will be felt no longer.

In Julia Quinn’s book series upon which the show is based, the novels themselves are very insular. Each focuses primarily on the experiences of the Bridgerton sibling and the person they will eventually marry. Since the beginning, the show has been building out the world Quinn created, adding secondary characters and giving them larger, ongoing storylines with their own arcs. Now, after two seasons and a spinoff, “Bridgerton” is using the foundation it has laid to its advantage, adding layers of meaning to every scene and lines of dialogue that allow it to explore the same rich themes as “Queen Charlotte.” This effect is felt most acutely with Brimsley (Hugh Sachs), Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), whose backstories elicit sympathy and give all their interactions — even the queen’s seemingly silly game with Whistledown — greater meaning.

And, unlike “Queen Charlotte,” which was beautifully done but also had moments that were torturous to endure, “Bridgerton” accomplishes this feat with a fun, fanciful romance.

It also helps that, unlike Seasons 1 and 2, which relied on flashbacks to create emotional depth (the abuse Simon’s father inflicted because of his stutter and the traumatic death of Anthony’s father), “Bridgerton” is relying on fans’ pre-existing investment in Colin and Penelope. We’ve watched Penelope pine for Colin from her window. We’ve listened to Lady Crane (Ruby Barker) tell Colin that he is taking Penelope for granted. Our hearts broke with Penelope’s when she overheard Colin’s mean comment at the end of the last season after they had finally danced together. All of these moments have been building toward this season, and we are ready for it.

In the opening sequence, Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews) says, “Whoever it is that makes the finest match this year, let us hope that their pairing brings some titillation.” I can attest that these first four episodes lay the groundwork to do exactly that, especially for those who read the book and are hoping for a steamy scene (perhaps in a carriage).

Also, in true Shonda Rhimes fashion, viewers can be certain the fourth episode will end in such a way that you will be screaming at the TV, wondering why Netflix is forcing you to endure an entire month to finish a season that you’ve already spent two years waiting for.

I don’t know Netflix’s reason, dear viewer, but I can attest that these four episodes are an immersive delight because, yes, the chemistry between Colin and Penelope is electric, but the larger world their romance takes place in is becoming even better.

“Bridgerton” Season 3, Part 1, is streaming on Netflix. Part 2 begins on June 13.

Popular in the Community

From our partner, more in culture & arts.

You're watching the 'Bridgerton' seasons and the 'Queen Charlotte' spinoff in the wrong order

"Bridgerton" season three premieres on May 16.
But it's actually the fourth season in the "Bridgerton" universe if you count "Queen Charlotte."
The ideal watching order is counterintuitive — you should intersperse the main show with the spinoff.

"Bridgerton" is returning with its third season, but viewers watching the franchise in release order are missing a beat.

The series, which premiered in 2020, quickly became one of the most-watched on Netflix as viewers were captivated by the bright, escapist drama set in 19th-century London.

The success of the first season prompted a whole franchise with more seasons plus a spin-off show, " Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story ."

Most fans have been watching the show in release order, but we think there is a better way.

Season 1 is still the perfect introduction to the "Bridgerton" world.

Though "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" is a prequel to the main "Bridgerton" series, it's not a great place to start. The prequel assumes prior knowledge of the shows.

Though it's not impossible to start with Queen Charlotte, we think "Bridgerton" season one is still the best opener.

Lady Whistledown , the anonymous gossip who narrates the show, spends much of the first two episodes establishing the world and explaining the rules of London society.

We meet the most important characters of London high society, including the Bridgertons and Featheringtons, Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), and Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel).

We follow the show's pivotal first love story between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Hastings (Regé Jean-Page), the rakish Duke of Hastings with a big secret.

We get the first hint of trouble in the royal household in episode five, which sets up the "Queen Charlotte" spinoff after you finish season one.

You should then watch the first 4 episodes of "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story."

This is where to divert from the release order.

"Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" is a limited miniseries covering the younger years of Queen Charlotte, played here by India Amarteifio.

This is where she meets King George III (Corey Mylchreest), marries him, and adjusts to life as an English monarch.

It is great context for George's later erratic behavior, which looms over the main narrative. It also explains how Charlotte, a Black woman, enters London's high society and begins the transformation to the more diverse nobility we see in the main show.

Elsewhere in the series, we also see the youths of Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas), the social scene's most respected widow, and Lady Bridgerton (Connie Jenkins-Greig), the matriarch of the Bridgerton family, which provides a lot of context for their future selves.

The prequel does have some scenes set after "Bridgerton" season two in the timeline, and there are small hints as to what happens, but not too many major spoilers.

Moments like the Queen grieving her living husband and Lady Bridgerton grieving her dead husband deliver better insight into these characters and a better narrative arc.

It's time to go back to "Bridgerton" season two to see Anthony Bridgerton's love story.

Season two is set a year after season one and follows Daphne's oldest brother, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), as he tries to find a wife.

He chooses Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), the Queen's favored debutante, but clashes with her older sister, Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).

This season finally explains what happened to the Bridgertons' former patriarch and Violet's former husband, Edmund Bridgerton (Rupert Evans). Lady Danbury and Queen Charlotte interact more, following their friendship in "Queen Charlotte."

The Queen spends most of this season hunting for Lady Whistledown's identity.

Then back to the final two episodes of "Queen Charlotte" for more context (and maybe the "Queen Charlotte" book).

After King George's brief cameo in "Bridgerton" season two, the final two episodes of "Queen Charlotte" make a nice conclusion to the love story between the two.

When I watch "Queen Charlotte," the final two episodes strike me as a self-contained unit. This part explores Lady Danbury's love life and reveals an important detail about Lady Bridgerton, which may be useful for season three.

You should also read the "Queen Charlotte" tie-in book, the only "Bridgerton" book written by Julia Quinn after the release of the TV series.

The main Netflix series adapts Quinn's "Bridgerton" books — but "Queen Charlotte" is different.

Quinn told Business Insider that the 2023 book is informed by the scripts for the TV series, meaning their plots align more closely.

Now you are ready to watch Penelope and Colin fall in love in "Bridgerton" season three.

The latest "Bridgerton" season follows Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), the third Bridgerton sibling, as he returns from traveling and is keen to reunite with his friend and neighbor Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). Unfortunately, she rebuffs him and says she's focused on finding a husband.

To win her attention, Colin agrees to teach Penelope how to seduce a man, which allows the pair to become closer.

Elsewhere, the Queen is trying to find a new interest, Lady Bridgerton is nearing a romance of her own, and Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) is making her debut in London society.

Main content

Henry & Gwen go to White Castle - and fall in love: Newberry woman's burger essay honored

Family and food, the two go together like bread and butter, or in this case – bread and burger.

As trends come and go, it's the long-practiced traditions that withstand the test of time.

For Deborah Doemland, of Newberry Township, an enthusiast of all-things White Castle, her burger journey holds not just a love for the fast-food restaurant's famous sliders, but also a connection to her family’s rich history.

Doemland recalled the story of her grandparents’ simple yet memorable first date, which occurred in 1925, just four years after the burger joint opened.

“Grandpa (Henry Decker) was in college, and took Grandma (Guinevere Kreutz) to a movie, and then a White Castle in New Jersey for sliders and coffee.”

In the early moments of that dinner date, inside the blue and white porcelain steel building, the two shared sliders, laughter and a delicious memory.

“In his own words, grandpa said that’s when he was smitten with grandma,” who went by Gwen.

Their love for the family-owned hamburger chain became a cherished family tradition, passed down to their children and grandchildren.

One of these traditions is held every Aug. 21, called "Slider Day," where Doemland and her husband drive to Allentown, home of Pennsylvania's only White Castle restaurant, and pick up a handful of "craver clutch" boxes, containing sliders and fries, they later distribute to relatives.

"Then we go around to our family and friends that we can reach in Carlisle, Stevensville, and deliver them and then we talk about grandma and grandpa - it just keeps them in everyone's hearts."

Doemland continues to carry the torch of her grandparents’ devotion to White Castle, recently with an honor – an induction into the White Castle Cravers Hall of Fame.

More: York County's 2023 Distinguished Young Woman: Namya Jindal of Dallastown Area High School

More: Believe it or not, Ripleigh got roses from Taylor Swift for ice creams honoring singer

White Castle Cravers Hall of Fame: 'A tribute to my family'

Every year, the family-owned burger chain inducts a new set of White Castle fans, or cravers, into a Hall of Fame. The honorees receive free travel to White Castle's home office in Columbus, Ohio and attend a reception in their honor.

Thousands each year submit essays that paint a picture of the ways people make memories and connect over White Castle. Some tales are funny, others are personal and heartfelt.

Doemland's essay detailed the celebrated holidays she created for the entire family to enjoy their shared heritage.

Included in her essay were "Nancy Foose Day," where Doemland's family members enjoy frozen strawberry treats in honor of her great-grandmother Nancy, who loved strawberry ice cream, and "Slider Day," which honors her grandparents' first date, falling in love over sliders and coffee.

"This was a tribute to my family and my grandparents - I loved them dearly," Doemland said.

Each inductee takes home a plaque commemorating the distinction, and White Castle fans everywhere will get to know them via their personal stories featured on the iconic Slider boxes, which will roll out later this year.

"When we got there, I met the other inductees and heard their stories. By the end, it was like we were family - it was surreal."

For Doemland, White Castle is more than just a burger chain restaurant, it brought her closer to family and allowed for new traditions to be made and celebrated.

Lena Tzivekis is a Central pa reporter. Have a story? Email her at [email protected] , or message her on Twitter at @tzivekis

'Golden Bachelorette' Joan Vassos gets second love chance, weighs in on Gerry Turner divorce

Joan Vassos, the hard-luck contestant who had to leave "The Golden Bachelor" early on, will be ABC's inaugural leading lady on the first-ever "The Golden Bachelorette."

As USA TODAY exclusively revealed in February, Vassos, 61, was among the top picks for the show following the success of "The Golden Bachelor." The private school administrator from Rockville, Maryland, was officially tapped to lead "The Golden Bachelorette," ABC announced Tuesday. The series will air on Wednesdays this fall.

"The secret is out," Vassos wrote on Instagram Stories. "I'm honored to be the first Golden Bachelorette."

Vassos, who spent a romantic evening with Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner in last year's show, became a fan favorite after her heartbreaking decision to leave "The Golden Bachelor." Vassos eliminated herself due to a medical concern with her daughter that required her care out in the real world.

The new show will be a "second chance at love," according to an ABC release.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

'The Golden Bachelor' recap: Here's when Joann had to give up the fight for Gerry Turner's heart

'Golden Bachelor' Gerry Turner congratulates 'Golden Bachelorette' Joann Vassos

Following the announcement, Turner congratulated Vassos on Instagram, writing, "Congratulations on being named the first-ever Golden Bachelorette."

Turner added: "You will be phenomenal as the new representative of a generation. From one 'Golden' to another...Relax, breathe and enjoy."

After Vassos exited "The Golden Bachelor" competition, Turner went on to give Theresa Nist the final rose, and the couple married in January. But in April, they shockingly announced on "Good Morning America " that they were divorcing after three months.

During an interview with CNN Tuesday, Vassos said she was "surprised" by Turner and Nist's divorce.

"I loved watching their journey. I saw them fall in love," Vassos said. "I believed, just like they did, that they were the perfect couple. And I applaud that they jumped into this process with both feet and they were ready to find love. And I also applaud them that when they discovered it wasn't perfect that they called it quits."

During Vassos' time on Turner's season, the bachelorette also talked passionately about her husband, John, who died after 32 years of marriage from pancreatic cancer. "He was the husband that always made me feel safe and cherished," Vassos wrote on Instagram in January. "He was the parent that was always the fun one because that’s all he knew how to do … I could go on for hours."

Who is Joan Vassos? Fans fell for her in 'Golden Bachelor' Episode 3

It's hard to forget Vassos in Episode 3 of "Golden Bachelor. "

During a talent competition, the self-deprecating Vassos, who nervously claimed she didn't have any talent, killed it. She read her poem about meeting Gerry, "I Just Hope I Don't Vomit on Your Shoes."

The simple verse got big laughs but also touched Turner, who welled up in tears listening. He picked Vassos as the talent show winner. The two connected on the following solo dinner date, which ended with Turner giving her a rose, and a deep kiss.

And yet the budding passion was all for naught, as Vassos tearfully exited "The Golden Bachelor" the next day. She received news that her daughter, who underwent a difficult C-section birth, required her mother's love and intervention in the real world.

During the November Women Tell All episode, Vassos returned. "It was so abrupt, it was like I had unfinished business," Vassos said tearfully of Turner. "I saw a future with somebody."

Vassos also expressed hope for a rekindled romantic future with someone.

IMAGES

Essay on Love
First Love by John Clare
40+ Heartfelt Valentine's Day Quotes To Express Your Love
Falling in Love Essay Example
The first time I saw you, I fell in love with your smile, which could
The First Time I Felt in Love Essay Example

VIDEO

Terrifier 2
FNAF-games are timeless (...well, some of them)
How I Fell in Love with Fighting Games
I Think I’m in Love!
Octami
Why Spider-Man: Blue is so Special

COMMENTS

The First Time I Fell In Love
The first time I fell in love was nothing like I ever expected. I know that most of you are thinking this is going to be another love story between a boy and a girl; however, this is not a typical love story. It all started my junior year of high school. I went to a private Christian school and had been a dancer since I was 3 years old.
My First Love Essay
Decent Essays. 779 Words. 4 Pages. Open Document. Having a first love can change your life for the better in so many ways. My first love did that and much more. The best part of it I didn't expect any of it. The first time I was introduced to her I was working at a place called smoothie king. I remember her walking in she was stunning ...
Personal Narrative: When I Fall in Love
Love is a multifaceted and complex emotion that has the power to shape our lives in extraordinary ways. It can bring immense joy and happiness, but also heartbreak and pain. In this personal narrative essay, I will explore my own experiences with falling in love and the profound impact it has had on my life.
Personal Narrative Essay: When I Fall In Love
Personal Narrative Essay: When I Fall In Love. They say that the first time you fall in love is a moment that you will never forget, you remember everything. The way the sky was that prefect autumn blue, they way the wind blow those different color leaves around making everything seem so different, so prefect. falling in love for the first time ...
Description of the Falling in Love
From my experience, I describe falling in love as an intense attraction to a person of the opposite sex. However, this may also occur between persons of the same sex, as is the case for gays or lesbians. When I fell in love, I felt being on top of the world. My life was instantly centered on the girl I had fallen in love with.
8 People Share What Their First Love Felt Like
-Darlene. The Best Friend Love. We met when we were 15, and it was the most slow-burn friendship to falling in love with the whole of someone. Like finding your best friend and falling in love ...
The First Time I Fell In Love, I Learned Romance & Identity ...
I fell in love with her later, quietly and without style, curled up in bed at two in the morning on a school night, a bulky cordless phone cradled against my ear, my voice low so as not to wake up ...
Personal Essays
Personal Essays | First Love. I'm not sure if I'm just making this up, but I feel I've heard it before: "you never recover from your first love.". Do you remember that feeling, falling in love for the first time? And how, when it ended, you were sure you'd never recover, never fall in love again? You were doomed to spend eternity ...
19 Love Experts On The First Time They Fell In Love
Andrew Zaeh for Bustle. "The first time I fell in love, at 18, was with a man who was adventurous, outgoing, and kind of a jerk at times. In my younger years, I didn't have foresight to ...
It was the moment I fell in love…
I fell in love for the first time with a boy named James Winthrop Frayne II. I was 11 years old and madly in love. He was 16 years old, tall and very smart, with red hair, green eyes and a slightly crooked smile. PlushDesignStudio / Pixabay - In love with books. Unfortunately for me, James or Jim, as I lovingly referred to him, was a ...
Narrative Essay Sample: "My First Love"
Narrative Essay Sample: "My First Love". Jerry Coll. Feb 6, 2023. Love is in the air, love is everywhere! First feelings are always special, new, unexplored, coupled with childish innocence and a pure vision of the world. It may sound ridiculous, but the fist time I felt that I'm alive, was the moment I felt in love for the first time.
The First Time I Fell In Love
The First Time I Fell In Love. The First Time I fell in Love It was a cool summer morning, and we got up early to enjoy the weeping willow trees. She ran out into the sunrise. All I could hear was her laughter, silent giggles that she tried to stifle. She ran farther into the damp field. Then she turned around and faced me.
The Early Stages of Falling in Love
Key points. The early stages of falling in love can be summarized into three feelings: euphoria, personal endangerment, and exhaustion due to the first two. The euphoric feeling of falling in love ...
To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This
Jan. 9, 2015. Leer en español. More than 20 years ago, the psychologist Arthur Aron succeeded in making two strangers fall in love in his laboratory. Last summer, I applied his technique in my ...
Narrative Essay About Fall In Love
When you are with that special someone; you fall in love in the blink of an eye. On my first date is when I began the journey of falling in love. It did not take long for Dylan, my fiancé, and I to fall in love. Dylan and I live in separate states, therefore our first date was also the first time I met him. Dylan came to my house and brought ...
15 People Describe What Love At First Sight Feels Like
Whether all your fears seem to slip away or if you feel totally calm and confident when you started talking to them, love at first sight can mean something different to everyone. Though an instant ...
Caitriona Balfe: The First Time I Left Home (and Fell in Love)
Photographs by Tony Cenicola/The New York Times. By Caitriona Balfe. Oct. 3, 2017. Through a cloud of Gauloises smoke, four men silently watched me as I made my way through the empty cafe to a ...
Essay on love at first sight
There have been many studies on the topic of love at first sight. According to a recent study done by University of Chicago, it can be easily determined if it is love or lust just, by the way, the people stare and their angle of stare. With the help of eye tracking, we can know if the two people are digging for love or bodies easily.
The First Time I Felt in Love
English: Descriptive Essay. The First Time I Felt in Love. It was a very ordinary day about three years ago. The weather was dull and cloudy and I was just about to head for home after an unusually difficult day at my local high school. I was thinking about a test that I had just completed and I was feeling stressed because I had not prepared ...
I fell in love on the internet
By: MG - @inquirerdotnet. Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:01 AM August 01, 2021. I fell in love on the internet. And I fell really hard. A typical love story usually starts when boy meets girl, they get to know each other, spend time together, get emotionally attached, and then fall in love. Ours, however, wasn't at all typical.
I Fell in Love with Hope Essay Topics
Essay Topics. 1. What role does autonomy play in the novel, and what is the relationship between chronic illness and autonomy? Use examples from the text to support your statements. 2. Create your own hit list of at least five items you would "steal" in the sense that Sam and his friends steal items on their hit list.
I Fell in Love With Hope Summary, Characters and Themes
Sam. The most complex character in the novel, Sam is the embodiment of the hopes and dreams of patients within the hospital. His prior love and the devastation of that loss have made him cynical and afraid of connection. Yet, his role as "hope" compels him to bond with those in the hospital, offering solace and a counterpoint to their cynicism.
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
The First Time I Fell in Love Lyrics. [Verse 1] I was only seventeen. Watching Golden State upon the silver screen. The first time I fell in love. Second Saturday of July. In the parking lot of ...
I fell in love with sea otters kayaking through a kelp forest
You can observe sea otters darting above and below the water's surface, going about their daily routines, and it's where I first fell in love with them. I grew up in Northern California and visited my first kelp forest when I went kayaking with them in the bay. While paddling through the gentle swells I caught glimpses of them peacefully ...
Have I Fallen Out of Love or Am I Depressed?
Falling out of love with someone can be a painful, heartbreaking experience. Feeling depressed can also affect how you feel about your relationships since it causes symptoms like loss of interest, sadness, irritability, and social withdrawal. Keep reading to get advice from experts on why falling out of love can be mistaken for depression, and ...
My boyfriend is 42 years older
An 18-year-old, whose boyfriend is 42 years her senior, has shared how the pair first set eyes on one another. Nikeisha Lightfoot, 18, first met her partner Dimitrios Fotis, 60, when he delivered ...
'Bridgerton' Season 3, Part 1 Review: The Netflix Show ...
Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in the first episode of Season 3 of "Bridgerton." Liam Daniel/Netflix. Other Bridgertons are also going through a time of great change. Benedict is trying to figure out who he is after giving up art, Francesca is hoping to find a husband and move into her own, quieter ...
Best Order to Watch 'Bridgerton' Seasons, 'Queen Charlotte' Spinoff
You're watching the 'Bridgerton' seasons and the 'Queen Charlotte' spinoff in the wrong order. "Bridgerton" season three premieres on May 16. But it's actually the fourth season in the "Bridgerton ...
Henry & Gwen go to White Castle
Deborah Doemland's essay about how her grandparents fell in love at White Castle earned her a spot in the burger joint's Craver Hall of Fame. News Sports GameTimePA Opinion Advertise Obituaries ...
'Golden Bachelorette' Joan Vassos gets second love chance, weighs in on
Move over Gerry Turner, it's "Golden Bachelorette" time. ABC names Joan Vassos, who appeared on "Golden Bachelor," to lead the first series.