Everyone has their favorite love story. When they’re feeling down, and want hope that love exists, or at least attractive people are still out there, they reach for the favorite film with an attractive cast. For many females in my age cohort, this movie would be the Notebook. Not this girl. When I’m looking for a love story pick-me-up it’s not the Notebook, Sweet Home Alabama, or How to lose a Guy in 10 days I reach for. My favorite romance is 500 Days of Summer.
“What?” you may be thinking, “That movie is SAD.” It’s not sad, it’s REAL. And as someone who has been both Summer and Tom, it’s hopeful. What’s worse, breaking someone else’s heart or having yours broken? Honestly, I don’t know. People, that’s life. Sometimes things just don’t work out. Yeah, Summer sucks. But in defense of her, she didn’t know. Sometimes you just aren’t feeling it. You don’t want to hurt someone, but it happens. And other times, your dreams are dashed and you think they are crazy for missing something that seems so clear to you. Both are hard, no matter which side you’re on. But what does this wise indie film teach us? Never give up.
Tom is alone and Summer is married. Yeah, that’s terrible. He could quit at life (and does for a few days) and never be happy again. But he doesn’t let one girl break him. There’s always another season in life. If Tom and Ted Mosby were real, I think they would be friends. There’s always more to your love story, if you keep writing it. And sometimes the people that teach us the most about relationships are the ones that don’t work out. I’m sorry, I really didn’t want to hurt you. Now I would do so much better.
So anytime I need a reminder that the world will keep turning no matter how badly I’ve hurt someone or how hurt I think I am, to Zooey and JLG I will turn. I love summer, but I love even more when seasons change.
