Romantic?

I had to think about the word romantic quite often in the last couple of days. There are certain experiences that we associate with being romantic.

The time we spend with our partner, sailing across the Atlantic, living on an island, being a photographer in New York or living in a loft.

Well, I have been in a few relationships, sailed across the Atlantic, have spent time on islands and have been working as a photographer in this city but romantic was neither of these experiences. I started contemplating because of the arctic temperatures in the loft I live in. When you sit at the computer and shivers run down your back because you are so cold while you wear long johns, a Northface jacket, a hat and sip on hot tea the word romantic does not cross your mind.

Maybe “romantic” was just invented by the mind to make us feel that something is missing, that our lives should be different and that we cannot be happy until we experience it.

Maybe life was never meant to be romantic but to be enjoyed and lived no matter what.

"Romantic?" Williamsburg/Brooklyn/Self Portrait shot at -8 Fahrenheit (-22 Celsius) 01-16-09 at 10:04 PM

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