All or Nothing

I just finished reading a book that really pulled at my heart strings.
                     "Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah. Highly recommended.
There was a scene in it that I loved so much.. I feel like I can really relate to this character {Julia}.
So let me just set the scene up for you. Julia is a middle aged psychiatrist who has had a pretty lonely life. Very loyal and devoted to whatever she does/whoever she loves. Max is about the same age, single, and has a passion for rock climbing... He is extremely handsome is dangerous since he is known for his non commital, one-night-standish tendencies.

This is a conversation between them that I feel is frame worthy.
{Or blog worthy when a frame is lacking.}

Julia: "I don't know how romantic I am, but I only know one way to love."
Max: "How's that?"
Julia: "All the way."
Max: "That's dangerous"
Julia: "Says the rock climber. When you climb, you risk your life. When I love, I risk my heart. It's ALL or nothing."

Isn't that the way we should all love? All or nothing? Well I used to think that's how all people love. All the way. I figured since that's how I love, it must be how everyone loves. I've discovered that this isn't necessarily true. To me {and Julia}, it is worth the risk.

When I read a good book, it's the same way. All or nothing. I become completely immersed.
It's nice to be able to step away from real life for a short time.
And slightly depressing when I turn the last page and realize it's time to step back in.
I feel sad. Almost a homesick sort of feeling. And I wish it wasn't all just a story.
It's like waking up from an amazing dream.

Another part of this boook that I LOVED was an excerpt from the children's story The Velveteen Rabbit. This is a story that Julia reads to a little girl named Alice. It's one of those books that seems like a normal children story, but it reveals truths about life that are usually unsaid and that we try to hide- but are planted deeply in each of us.

"Real isn't how you are made." said the Skin Horse.
"It's a thing that happens to you when a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit
"Sometimes" said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.


For me, whether it's a person, a place, a job, a belief, a book, a movie- I'm always fully invested.
it will ALWAYS be: All or Nothing. 
Even if it hurts sometimes.

Song of the day: All or Nothing by O-Town