Very often, as the greedy creatures we are, we crave attention. In this ever present judgmental society, we constantly desire confirmation that what we're doing is correct-- how we act, what we wear, our whole package.

Sometimes, this hunger to be loved distorts our definition of what love really is. We get so caught up in seeking attention from others that we forget. We believe we cannot exist comfortably without validation-- as if self-love is not enough.

So, we go a little crazy. Once the smallest bit of attention arises, we greedily go along for the ride. The roller coaster begins, with your fears left behind at the gate. There's no time to think as you strap yourself into your seat, clinging onto your former sense of self. You brace yourself, nervously shaking off thoughts of failure and previous heartbreak. You focus and prepare yourself to shoot out of the tunnel, for the explosion, the liftoff. The sensation to reveal that you're never turning back.

And, you love it. At least, for a while.

What happens when we love a good roller coaster? We ride it, again and again.

We get sick of it.

It is important to recognize that the ride, although thrilling at times, is short and usually not worth the pain afterwards. It is necessary to identify the motivation. Do we ride over and over for the thrill, or just because it becomes habit?

The time comes when we need to switch from our childish love of attention to the mature thought of actually caring about its source.

Sometimes we're so hungry to be part of something, to be loved--
that we lose sight of where that motivation is coming from. We get caught up in the perceived rarity when we think:

"Hey, somebody LOVES me!"

We fail to realize that in reality, our roller coaster ride to feel complete can really be cut short: once we discover that we posses the validation offered by another individual within ourselves.

That is quite the ride.