Would you hook up with this?
What about this?
We all have different expectations in a companion. Whether you're into flashy displays of affection like the Superb Bird of Paradise or hardcore commitment like a lobster, you have an idea of what kind of counterpart you want.
Animals are much more upfront about their ideals. They are inherently programmed with a kind of honesty that is rare in humans. We often feel the need to mask our intentions or desires with coy demeanors and carefully-styled exteriors, which begs the question, how far will that get you?
Could animal honesty be the trick to successful relationships, both casual and monogamous? I understand that most animals have their specific mating rituals because they want to perpetuate the species as successfully as possible, but outside of that fact, perhaps the animal kingdom is more adept at the art of love because they are so fearless about it.
Would you ever imagine that this creature is a violent lover?
Not likely.
Believe it or not, garden snails can be brutal when it comes to professing their attractions. Even though they possess hermaphroditic characteristics, they shoot "love darts" at their mates in a ritual that can last hours on end. Acting as a less appealing incarnation of Cupid's arrows, the darts are intended to maximize the effectiveness of mating, and the snails will circle each other in a vicious waltz until they are ready to copulate.
While every species in the animal kingdom is unique in its courtship, they are all honest. Animals are permitted to live without the demands of human life that make us so blind to love's potential. They are genetically designed to seek out the ideal mate, wearing their hearts on hypothetical sleeves until they find him or her.
So regardless of what or whom you're looking for this February 14th, reckon with yourself as to what you really want. When you figure it out, I suggest employing honesty to get it.
