The Heart That Glitters Isn't Always Gold

Loving Someone Who Doesn’t Love You While Neglecting the One Who Truly Does There is a quiet tragedy that unfolds in many hearts — the paradox of loving someone who does not love you in return, while turning your back on the one who would have moved mountains for your happiness simply because they don’t fit your idea of “taste.” It's a story told not just in romantic novels or movies, but in the everyday experiences of countless people. To love someone who does not love you back is like pouring water into a cracked jar. No matter how much of your affection you pour in, it will never be enough to fill the void or satisfy your longing. You find yourself chasing signs, decoding words, romanticizing crumbs of attention, and convincing yourself that one day, they will see you, truly see you — and choose you. But that day may never come. In fact, in many cases, their silence or indifference is their answer. Yet, because the heart is stubborn and the mind is wrapped in ideals, you wait. You dream. You hope. In this pursuit, your eyes become blind to the presence of someone else, someone who sees you clearly. This person doesn’t offer you illusions, but sincerity. Their love may not come with flashy gestures or magazine-cover appearances, but it is real, patient, and enduring. They show up. They listen. They care in ways the one you desire never has. But because they don’t match your imagined standard, perhaps in looks, social status, wealth, or even confidence — you overlook them. You place them in the background, assuming they'll always be there, loyal and waiting. This is where the irony deepens: we often chase what glitters and ignore what glows. The idea of “taste” or “standards” is not inherently wrong, we all have preferences and dreams for who we’d like to be with. But when taste becomes a filter that blocks out genuine love in favor of shallow appeal, it becomes a trap. The truth is, taste can change. The person you think is “not your type” today might turn out to be your greatest peace and joy tomorrow. Meanwhile, the one who fits your ideal image may never value you as much as you value them. There's also an inner conflict at play. Sometimes, we crave the validation that comes from being chosen by someone “out of our league". It’s less about love and more about ego — about proving to ourselves that we are worthy of being desired by the person everyone else admires. But love is not a trophy to be won; it is a journey to be shared. And when we reject love because it doesn’t come in the package we expected, we risk losing something irreplaceable. Worse still, we may break the heart of the one who loved us genuinely. We leave wounds where there should have been warmth. And in our loneliness, when the one we chased finally makes it clear that they’ll never be ours, we often turn back  only to find that the one who loved us has moved on. Sometimes they’re still there, but changed ,cautious, tired, or no longer willing to wait. And that is the real tragedy: to realize, too late, that the person we once dismissed was actually the person we needed all along. So what should we do? We must learn to listen, not just to our desires, but to our hearts. To look beyond appearances and superficial standards. To recognize love not just in grand words, but in consistent actions. We must ask ourselves: Does this person bring peace or confusion? Do they show up for me, or do I have to beg for their time? Do they make me feel seen, or always second-guess myself? Love should not be a battlefield where you fight to be chosen. It should be a home, a safe place where you're accepted, cherished, and inspired to grow. The one who truly loves you may not be perfect, but neither are you. And perhaps, just perhaps, that “imperfect” person is perfectly suited for your heart. In the end, the one who loves you truly , even if not packaged in your fantasy , may be the one your soul has been searching for all along. Don’t let pride or illusion make you miss a lifetime of joy for a moment of infatuation.

Other insights from Bibi Ire