When it comes to love, I’m the least logical person in the world…

Perfect example: last night I started researching why parakeets pass away after their partner dies, and next thing I know I’m listening to Otis Redding’s Cigarettes and Coffee on repeat, laying upside down on my bed and writing a vehement attack against any and all neurobiological attempts to rationalize love via dopaminergic reward pathways. (Yes, wine was involved… and yes, this is really the type of stuff I do when I’m tipsy.)

But seriously: you listen to that song and tell me love has anything to do with science!

So I know you guys are probably expecting to read about a bunch of studies and statistics…

…but at this point, you’re seriously just lucky you’re not looking at a rambling essay on love, parakeets and sleeping in the desert with a billion stars all around (bonus points to anyone who knows what song I’m talking about! lol) ♥

For those of you who are really interested in the science though, check out biological anthropologist, Dr. Helen Fisher – she’s a research professor and member of the Center for Human Evolution Studies in the Department of Anthropology at Rutgers University (and, fun fact: also the chief scientific advisor at Chemistry.com – a division of Match.com).

And if you still haven’t had your science fix, look into oxytocin (aka: the cuddle hormone)!

Update 2/15/13: You might also like my post, Can You Die from a Broken Heart?

But for those of you who aren’t interested in science and just come to Prayers and Apples for the entertainment (because, ya know, who doesn’t come to a holistic wellness site for the videos?)…

Here’s my all-time favorite love song with one of the best Wonder Years moments ever (if you’ve already watched this on my Happiness page you still need to watch it again lol):

I feel a little bad for leaving my science-lovers out in the cold…

But, as you probably gathered from watching that clip (or talking to me for, like, more than one minute ever): I kind of have the most romanticized notion of love in the universe. So before I start pushing old school Boys II Men songs (come on, End of the Road? seriously, you can’t listen to that song and not want to slow dance!) or that Tom Cruise movie, Cocktail (random, I know, but for some reason the idea of being in love is inextricably tied up in my mind with leaving the world behind (what up, Santa Monica!) and living on an island), here’s a few more resources to save you:

• U.S. Department of Health: The Effects of Marriage on Health

• Huffington Post: Love and Health

• Washington Post: Health Benefits of Falling and Staying in Love

• Fox News: Healthy Love Life Leads to Well-Being

Hope everyone has a great Valentine’s Day!

What are your favorite love songs/shows? Let me know if you check into those science articles too! :)