KANISA GEORGE
We've all been there - your first crush, first kiss, first love. Along with it comes a plethora of emotions, an ocean of tears and several sleepless nights (talking with your significant other till 3 am or crying to your best friend about the inevitable end). Yet, through it all, we all share one thing in common, and that's the high of being in love. Whatever your views are on this mystified illusion, we can all admit that love might sometimes be complicated, complex and overly nuanced, but above all, it's a beautiful thing to experience.
But can you fall in love without actually ever meeting the other person? Without seeing what they look like and falling in love based on their personality and your emotional connection? Without a doubt, the Netflix series Love is Blind has truly breathed life into a "phenomenon as old as time" and has forced some people to consider whether love truly is blind. The idiom 'love is blind' considers a scenario where a romantic connection grows utterly independent of physical appearance and, in some cases, physical touch. This concept envisages the development of emotional intimacy minus the emphasis that's often placed on physical appearance.
Who doesn't want to be loved for their outgoing personality and kind spirit? After all, we are what's on the inside. Yet, unfortunately, that's not the first thing people see. Yes, physical beauty fades, and as much as we sometimes try, it's not humanly possible (though some women have done the unthinkable) to maintain a perfectly polished look 24/7. In a world where Instagram perfections is placed above all, there are more than a handful of us helplessly holding on to the belief that love can be truly blind. But are we fooling ourselves? Is this approach to love even possible?
Science has proven time and time again that there is a link between attraction based on looks, sexual satisfaction, and happiness in relationships. While endearing qualities like kindness and empathy are essential nurturing elements, sex and desire can't be removed from the equation, as they are both important for relationship satisfaction and success.
In 2014, a study conducted by researcher Hans Yoo and his colleagues and published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy found that the emotional and sexual aspects of intimacy in romantic relationships are significant correlates of a couples' relationship satisfaction.
If the results of these studies hold true, and sex and touch are central to a long-term relationship, it seems highly unlikely that a relationship can be sustained without either party being physically attracted to the other.
Naturally, we are designed to first see with our eyes. We become intrigued by what's before us based on what makes us tick and our own concept of desire. But, unfortunately, so much of what makes us tick is physical. How then can we extricate ourselves from our love of beauty and the desire that beauty sometimes ignites in us?
When it comes to love, there are a number of ways one coul
