Components of Romance
Romance is one of those words that vary in meaning and substance depending on whom you ask. Men and women often have differing perceptions, as do singles versus those in committed relationships. We have offered some of the definitions people can and do use to describe romance. We asked a bunch of people, both married and single, men and women to state what comes to mind when you think of the word ‘romance’? Most people, regardless of gender or relationship status said “sex”. To a certain extent, we agree. Sex can be romantic in many ways, and may be equivalent to the definition of romance for some. This website, as you may have realized by now, believes that sex is only a part of romance. To make our point: Sex is only a part of romance.
The definition of the week describes components of romance that include all five senses.Well, that definition is certainly open to wide interpretation. Romantic sights might include anything from a room full of flowers to a sunset on the beach to a naked person in a hot tub, to the city lights of Paris. Romantic sounds might include anything from an individual moaning in ecstasy, to the sounds of Led Zepplin or Frank Sinatra, depending on who you ask. Romantic smells could include anything from types of food to candles to the cold air from a fresh fallen snow....to, well, the smell of sex.
Romance is an abstract concept, because it typically means something personal and intimate to everyone, although each individual's memory of 'romance" share common qualities. It also somewhat abstract because it is defined with other undefinable, abstract words like "love" and "affair", with their own complex, multiple meanings. The definition of the week was chosen because it atttempts to encapsulate in a sentence, what some people spend their lives seeking, speaking, singing, and if you are lucky, living (in what takes much more than a sentence). Romance tends to be thought of as brief and intense (e.g. it was a romantic moment in time, a romance of a lifetime); romance is abstract because it can be whatever you decide it to be--and yes, that means it can be a regular part of your relationship, right from the beginning. 'The Glory of Love' can be anything you wish and want for yourself. It doesn't have to be brief or intense, romance can be a consistent, loving, sensual and sexual part of your relationship. Look for more articles on each component of romance for an in depth look at each of the five senses, to stimulate your imagination for your own future prospects.
