I have a confession to make. I’ve suffered from a serious addiction. No, it isn’t drugs, alcohol or even sex. In fact, this addiction is far more culturally pervasive, accepted, even encouraged. It’s not shopping or compulsive Internet use (although my excessive Facebook checking could possibly use some attention). Nope, I have spent the majority of my life addicted to The Quest.
The Quest of finding my one true love. “The One” who would make my life complete. I’m sure you’re familiar with this One – he/she is touted in movies, songs and storybooks as a savior from all that is “wrong” with us.
My addiction was so serious; I dated men that were absolutely wrong for me, including one man whose name and occupation
matched the deets a psychic gave me for my alleged One. This addiction caused me to do everything from wear uncomfortable “sexy” clothes to pretend to enjoy things like golf and monster trucks. No one should do any of those things. Ever.
I was so utterly committed to my Quest that I wrote a romance novel about it. And as I did, it led me to an insight that rocked my world. I was addicted. It wasn’t about The One or even finding a great guy. Hell, I had dated plenty of those. Instead, it was the thrill of the chase, the hunt, the enthralling prospect that this date, this online chat, this happy hour – could result in my
eternal happiness. Needless to say, my romance novel had a different ending than I expected.
But, then, something amazing happened.
My novel was optioned as a film by director Lee Scharfstein. He wants to share this story with a larger audience to showcase how our society’s addiction to The Quest is affecting both sexes. You see, men are also addicted, only they are addicted to the other side of the coin – the conQuest. Look closely at the components and you’ll see it has all the same elements as women’s
Quest.
But, after years of Questing, I had an unexpected truth whisper itself to me while sitting in meditation one day. It said, ever so softly: You are the love of your life.
What?! I gasped in terror. What if all along The One was right here, only she was so busy thinking her neverending
happiness existed elsewhere that she missed the whole point? What if, the One was Me?
The terror quickly subsided as a new feeling emerged – relief. Oh, thank god I heard my soul say.
In that instant the antidote, the cure, the panacea for the Quest was found. We are the Ones we’ve been waiting for. There is no One out there to find. There is only the discovery of self. As I toy with this new revelation – that I am, in fact, the love of my life (and you are too) – I can’t help but notice an opening occurring inside of me. It is the very clear sense that I am whole
already.
And isn’t that worth spending eternity with?
As I wrap up edits on my second romance novel, Following Bliss, and preproduction begins for The Quest – the film, I am in awe of what’s possible when we take time to connect within and ask for our truth to be shown (or write a novel about how much we love love only to discover a deeper truth exists!). We may not like it, but damnit if it isn’t leading us somewhere breathtaking – like the realization that you are the love of your life.
Heather Strang is the author of The Quest: A Tale of Desire & Magic, Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems, and the upcoming sequel to The Quest, Following Bliss. She is a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner and Shambhala Multidimensional Reiki healer, and became interested in holistic healthcare after utilizing energy medicine to heal herself. Heather currently merges her passion for love and healing by working with individuals one-on-one, facilitating a host of courses and healing circles.
She holds a BS in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in English and Women’s Studies from Portland State University, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. When she’s not engaged in some form of workplay, you’ll find her meditating in her
pajamas, dancing down the aisles of the grocery store, and/or exploring the possibilities of the Universe through books and travel. Learn more at www.HeatherStrang.com
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