Broken Heart Badges

"It's still two human beings trying to get along, so it's going to be complicated. And love is always complicated. But humans must try to love each other, darling. We must get our hearts broken sometimes. This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something." — from Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love

My friend just put this quote up on her facebook wall and it got me to thinking... Did I wear my broken heart proudly when it happened? No... no, I didn't. I was so overwhelmed at being broken that I couldn't think of anything else. I couldn't think how thankful I was for having the opportunity to love. I couldn't think how thankful I was for the two years of love that I did have. I couldn't think of how proud I was for trying and for growing in that love. I couldn't think of how, even though my heart was broken at the moment, my heart would be stronger and better in the long run. So when I read this quote and used my 20/20 hindsight, I was able to do that. So thanks, friend, for posting the quote and I hope that if your heart is broken, you will learn to wear it with a little pride for the risks you took and the things you gain in the end.