Parcel

There is much on my mind, but it is hard to articulate thoughts these days. So for today, I leave you with the words of someone else, which provoked much thought for me.

This is an excerpt from Elizabeth Gilbert's "Committed". I read this book at the end of the summer, and really enjoyed it. This part especially stood out to me. Here, she is quoting her fiance, Felipe, speaking to her.

When I used to go down to Brazil to buy gemstones, I would often buy something they call 'a parcel.' A parcel is this random collection of gems that the miner or wholesaler or whoever is bullshitting you puts together. A typical parcel would contain, I don't know, maybe twenty or thirty aquamarines at once. Supposedly, you get a better deal that way - buying them all in a bunch - but you would have to be careful, because of course the guy is trying to rip you off. He's trying to unload his bad gemstones on you by packaging them together with a few really good ones.

" So when I first started in the jewelry business," Felipe went on, "I used to get in trouble because I'd get too excited about the one or two perfect aquamarines in the parcel, and I wouldn't pay as much attention to the junk they threw in there. After I got burned enough times, I finally got wise and learned this: You have to ignore the perfect gemstones. Don't even look at them twice because they are blinding. Just put them away and have a careful look at the really bad stones. Look at them for a long time, and then ask yourself honestly, 'Can I work with these? Can I make something out of this?' Otherwise, you've just spent a whole lot of money on one or two gorgeous aquamarines buried inside a big heap of worthless crap.

"It's the same with relationships, I think. People always fall in love with the most perfect of each other's personalities. Who wouldn't? Anyone can love the most wonderful parts of another person. But that's not the clever trick. The really clever trick is this: Can you accept the flaws? Can you look at you partner's faults honestly and say, 'I can work around that. I can make something out of that'? Because the good stuff is always going to be there, and it's always going to be pretty and sparkly, but the crap underneath can ruin you."

"What I'm trying to say, darling, is that I've been watching you carefully for a long time already, and I believe I can accept the whole parcel."

So converse with me...what are your thoughts? Do you have anyone that loves you in this way? Who in your life do you love the "whole parcel"? For whom is that kind of love the most challenging (No need for specific names, but generalizations are fine.:) )? I'd love your wisdom.