Some people are more vulnerable to dying of a broken heart than others, but it's a mistake to conclude they all die because they can't fend for themselves or are just too weak to handle the stress. There is no doubt that the loss of a spouse at the end of a long relationship is stressful, but there is often more going on than that.
Understanding broken heart syndrome, aka Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, requires looking at it in a deeper philosophical way, and when you do, I think you'll agree that referring to these "human events" as simply another stress-induced heart attack can demean what may be really taking place.
We don't choose who we love or who loves us in return. It's not a skill, it's a feeling. The best we can do is recognize it if it comes our way and then take care of it. I think that's the message those who die of a broken heart have for us all.
Only love can break your heart.
Mixed & selected by Ace Beaty, recorded on February 1st, 2016. Graphic design: Ace Beaty.
