TRUE (REAL) LOVE –

TRUE (REAL) LOVE

I always thought that love was forever. I have learned through trial and error that sometimes it is and sometimes it is not. The length that someone loves can depend on the type of love. There are many different types of love. Love of family, friends, yourself. Love has different levels: playful, obsessive, unconditional, romantic, passionate, selfless.

There is love for your parents, children, grandchildren, and other family members. There is love for your friends. There is love for your romantic partner. There is being “in love” which is completely different. To me, love is the feeling of a person having a place in your heart.

The types of love can change. Platonic love can turn into romantic love. Romantic love can turn into platonic love. Love can (and does) ebb and flow. Even if you are in a romantic relationship with someone, that love changes. Some days it is wonderful and some days it is a challenge. Love is like life. It isn’t always easy. Love takes work, effort, compassion, listening, and patience. Oh, so much patience! LOL

For me, I have found that true love is real and long-lasting. As I have gotten older, I have noticed that how I love and how I feel about love has changed. For some that I have loved, the type of love has changed. For others, the love was temporary and is gone. And yet others I will always love in some way.

My love for one specific person has gone through a lot. We met as teens and fell in love. Life happened and we stopped being in each other’s lives. We connected again on Facebook but had no communication other than wishing each other a happy birthday each year. Then my life changed drastically and I did some soul-searching therapy and analysis. I realized that I had always loved this person, but I figured we were not meant to be together because the timing was never right. Then, decades later the timing may have been right, but I was not quite ready. He was so he reached out and we reconnected. He took a shot and I reacted in the only way I want to have a relationship – being honest and open with my feelings and thoughts. He agreed with that and said we could start this new part of our relationship at my pace. I wanted to take I slow but “the powers that be” (that can be whoever/whatever you believe in but for me that is God and the souls of our loved ones who have passed) said, “Uh, no! You two have waited long enough.” Things happened that quickly put me in his town a little over a mile from his home. And, with the daunting situation ahead of me, I was going to need help both emotionally and physically. After all, I am only human and there was a lot that I would have to do in a brief period of time over 500 miles from my home.

Here we are, almost 2 years later and I know that this love is a real, true love. We have loved each other for decades – whether near or far, in contact or not. I always felt in my heart that if we were ever at the same place in our lives at the same time, we would be together again. I never doubted that fact, I just didn’t think that the timing would ever work out. I was wrong and I am very glad every day that I was. Knowing without a doubt that he truly, really loves me and I him fills my heart with warmth and makes me happy.