Does Art Imitate Life? Or Does Life Imitate Art??

I've recently been thinking if romance and all that crazy stuff we see in romantic movies (and romantic comedies); read in novels, hear in all sorts of music. Do people really do all that crazy love stuff? Or is it a case of, "This is what I could d if the situation really happened?" Is it some figment of their over-active imagination? Do people fall in love or just come to some realization at some point and say to themselves, "Well, I'm (insert age) and (insert name here) is probably the best I can do. Sure they have these faults and issues I can't stand but I don't think I can do any better?"

What's a hopeless romantic? Why are they hopeless? Are they hopeless because what they are looking for doesn't exist? I couldn't find a dictionary definition for it (I only checked www.dictionary.com) but I did come across the following definition from a site aptly called Hopeless Romantic:

"people who find romance in every situation, who love being in love, or even only a semblance of that sublime emotion."

Check out what The Urban Dictionary defines a hopeless romantic as.

Ok maybe not the most definitive sources on what a hopeless romantic is but if I were to take a stab at it after reading those definitions I would say that "hopeless romantic" is someone that wears their heart on the their sleeve, throws caution to the wind and expresses their love for someone through some wild romantic gesture; they don't care what happens or who know's or what the possible consequences are of their actions because at the end of it all they've got their woman or their man - or they at least hope to.

Can someone be a hopeless romantic when they are with someone? How can it be hopeless if they are already in love and that special someone is in love with them? I think at that point it's just called "being romantic". :)

So getting back to the whole does art imitate life or vice versa thing... Did people ever say before Tom Cruise immortalized the phrase, "You complete me." ? Or have people ever run into a New Years Eve party wearing jeans and some shirt, all out of breath and pour their heart out to some fantastic woman and how he loves all the little nuances and annoyances she has? Like Billy Crystal's character in When Harry Met Sally? Take your pick of love songs or novel. Are people like that in real life?

I'd like to think so but I also think the majority of people have some sort of romance filter. Think of all the times when you were woo-ing or being wooed by your current girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife. Do you still do all those things you did to win their heart? If not, why? Is there no point now that you have them and if that's the case does that classify being romantic back in the day as a big lie?

Sure people get comfortable with their loved one, they fall into some sort of relationship routine or maybe because they've won their loved one over they don't do the special stuff or wear the nice clothes or buy flowers "just because", continue to go to the gym because they are saving it for some special occasion or they don't want to spoil the sanctity of all that is romantic. Isn't not doing those nice things that send a shiver down her spine, get you all excited the whole point? I'd say not doing is spoiling the sanctity of romance.

I'm sure there are numerous other reasons why people don't do those nice things for their loved one anymore or even someone they are just interested in.

• No time
• No money
• It goes unappreciated
• It leads to other things
• Too tired
• He/She will think I'm a stalker or at least creepy

I'm sure there are more but that's what I could come up with but I'd be interested in knowing why else people aren't hopeless romantics. :)

I'd like to think that all these movies, TV shows, song, book writters are pulling their inspiration from life experiences, sure some of it seems over the top but I can't remember the last time I heard a truly original romantic gesture that someone did for someone else. I've had my share of romantic gestures over the years and I'd like to say that I had hopeless romantic tendencies but it never garnered the desired reaction, like almost as if it was some sort of defacto standard or it was taken for granted or that it was expected, or just plain un-called for.

Which brings me to ... Is there that one special someone out there for everyone? I can't honestly believe there's just one. How many billion people are their in the world? Maybe one in the immediate city you live in but not the entire world. :) Does everyone find that special someone or do they settle for second best? I suppose you can look at divorce rate numbers in Canada and the U.S and say that there are an aweful lot of people that haven't found "The One." :)

If I were to think of all the people that I know that are with someone, there are some that are with their soulmate and some that are not (well I have trouble seeing it anyhow). I know some people that are unhappy but think they can't do any better or are lonely, although they are with someone. (I've been in that situation.)

I guess people just give up looking because of age and they want certain things and they'll take whatever comes close to their ideal person but isn't that a cop out? Is it a good idea to give up looking for that special someone and settle? If starting a family is so important shouldn't you be with the right person so that the love that exists between two people results in a child that will be raised with the same values and love that brought the parents together? Isn't that how the world is suppose to improve and be a better place? Ok, maybe I'm pushing it a bit on that one but I don't think I'm too far off. :)

Are romantic gestures overshadowed by the fact that everyone is too smart for their own good and rather than take it for what it is they think it's some ticket to get into their pants? (Who's not guilty of doing that at some point??) :P

You know, people shouldn't stop doing the nice things they used to do, there's no excuse so maybe as a New Years Resolution, somewhere between "Go to the gym" and "Be more financially responsible. People should, "Wear their hearts on their sleeve, just go for it and be romantic just because and not because Hallmark tells you to." :)

Merry Christmas.