LOVE IS A JOURNEY: Why We Are “At A Crossroads”
A relationship isn’t just a feeling; it’s a trip. The lovers are travelers, the relationship is the vehicle, and the difficulties are bumps in the road.
You have mastered Money (Time) and War (Argument). Now, let’s look at Love.
When we talk about love, we almost always use the logic of travel. We map the abstract idea of “a relationship” onto the concrete idea of a “journey.” If you understand travel, you understand how English speakers view love.
1. The Relationship is a Vehicle
We view the relationship as a car, boat, or train that the couple is riding in. If the vehicle breaks, the relationship ends.
- “We are just spinning our wheels.” (Not moving forward.)
- “Our marriage is on the rocks.” (Like a boat crashing.)
- “We decided to go our separate ways.” (Leaving the shared vehicle.)
2. The Goals are Destinations
A successful relationship is one that “goes somewhere.” If it doesn’t move toward a goal (marriage, life), we say it is stuck.
- “This relationship isn’t going anywhere.”
- “We’ve come a long way.” (We have achieved a lot.)
- “It’s a dead end street.” (No future possibility.)
3. Problems are Road Hazards
Arguments and difficulties are physical objects on the road.
- “We hit a bump in the road.” (A minor problem.)
- “We are at a crossroads.” (We must make a choice.)
- “It’s been a long, hard road.” (A difficult history.)
Think about it
If love is a journey, who is driving? Are you a passenger? Or are you a co-pilot? Your language reveals your role.
Quiz: The Roadmap of Love
Navigate the metaphors of relationships.