I love romance. I'm a sucker for it. I love it so much. It's

In the vast expanse of human emotion, few things stir the heart and the spirit like romance. The word itself conjures images of passion, of longing gazes and whispered promises, of hearts intertwined in a dance that transcends time. Yet, in the words of Drew Barrymore, "I love romance. I'm a sucker for it. I love it so much. It's pathetic," we encounter a truth that resonates deeply with the human experience. For romance, though it brings great joy and fulfillment, can also leave one feeling vulnerable, even exposed, as though the very depths of the soul are laid bare in the pursuit of love. Barrymore’s words speak not just of romance but of the longing and vulnerability it evokes—of the ways in which the heart, in its search for connection, can sometimes be consumed by its own desire for something that, in its intensity, may seem almost pathetic.

In the ancient world, romance was not simply an affair of the heart, but of the soul. The poets of Greece and Rome—Ovid, Sappho, Virgil—wrote of love’s ability to elevate the human spirit, yet they also recognized its potential for destruction. Ovid’s Metamorphoses tells the stories of lovers whose desires led them to tragedy, showing how love could be both a force of creation and a force of ruin. In the same way, Barrymore’s confession reveals the dual nature of romance: it is a force that lifts us to the heights of joy, but can also leave us feeling exposed, as though our vulnerability is something to be pitied or ashamed of. For to love deeply is to risk, to open oneself fully, without guarantee of reciprocity or return.

Consider the tale of Antony and Cleopatra, whose romance, though steeped in politics and power, was no less passionate and filled with longing. Antony, a man of great strength and ambition, was brought to his knees by his love for Cleopatra, a love that was so consuming that he, too, could say, “I am a sucker for it.” This great general, whose name echoed through the halls of power, was rendered vulnerable, just as Barrymore speaks of—overwhelmed by a love so great that it seemed almost pathetic in its intensity. Cleopatra, too, was caught in the sweep of this love, abandoning her alliances and her kingdom for the sake of their bond. Their romance, though a union of power and destiny, was ultimately marked by the tragic vulnerability of two souls who could not escape the powerful forces of their own desires.

Barrymore’s words invite us to reflect on our own relationship with romance. We, too, are often consumed by the search for connection, the longing to be seen and understood, and in our pursuit, we may sometimes feel foolish or weak. The ancient philosophers understood this as well. Aristotle spoke of love as a force that binds individuals together, yet he also recognized the dangers of unchecked passion. Romantic love, he argued, can lead to wisdom and fulfillment, but it must be tempered with balance and reason. To love without understanding, without a sense of moderation, is to expose oneself to the risks of overwhelming emotion, the kind that Barrymore so openly acknowledges as pathetic. In embracing romance, we must also embrace the balance between heart and mind.

But, even as we recognize the vulnerability that love entails, we must also acknowledge its beauty. There is something sacred in allowing ourselves to be consumed by passion, in giving ourselves over to the pursuit of something greater than ourselves. Dante wrote of his love for Beatrice, a love so transcendent that it became the very fuel for his Divine Comedy. His love, too, was not free from the vulnerability and desperation that Barrymore speaks of. He, like many before and after him, understood that romance, in its purest form, demands everything—the heart, the mind, and the soul. This is why love, in all its glory, can feel pathetic in its depth. It demands of us everything we are, and sometimes, this feels like a sacrifice too great to bear.

So, what can we learn from Barrymore’s words? The lesson is this: love, in all its forms, is not something to be ashamed of, even when it feels overwhelming. To love is to expose oneself to the full range of human emotion—the joy, the pain, the vulnerability, and the beauty of connection. While romance may leave us feeling vulnerable, it is also the force that elevates us. To be willing to be a "sucker" for romance is to embrace our humanity in its truest form. It is to recognize that we are meant to love, not just with our minds, but with our hearts and souls, even when that love makes us feel pathetic or weak.

Thus, let us move forward with the understanding that romance is not something to shy away from or hide. To love deeply, to be a "sucker" for it, is to live fully. Whether our love is returned or unrequited, it is a sacred journey, one that connects us to the very essence of life itself. Let us love, even in our vulnerability, and let our hearts be open, knowing that the act of loving—no matter how intense, no matter how pathetic it may feel—is what makes us truly alive.