It’s not uncommon to wonder if true love exists, or if it’s merely an illusion we chase. You may be wondering how love can spark so much joy and inspiration, but also bring such heartache and disappointment? What is love? Do we really understand what loving each other year to year entails? How can we believe in something we don’t really understand?
From an early age, we develop our concept of love through fairy tales, movies and family dynamics. When we are young, we believe in fairy tales with all the beautiful princesses and heroic princes. However, as we grow older, our understanding of love must evolve, and we must start to recognize that love isn’t always the perfect fairy tale we may have once believed in, but love is still very real.
Remember the feelings you experienced when you were dating your partner? We know that love can be exhilarating; it often offers a sense of completeness or fulfillment. However, love can also reveal our imperfections and idiosyncrasies. Love isn’t always easy. Yet, despite the pain and disappointment we may experience in love, many still believe in its transformative power. I know I do. But I didn’t always believe in love. After experiencing two heart-wrenching divorces, I said, “I would never get married again.” But eventually, my heart softened, and the feeling of hope once again filled my heart, and that is when I met my third husband, Brian. Brian was also divorced. So, we understand the importance of learning how to navigate the inevitable conflicts and challenges that occur in our lives. That’s what it takes to create the marriages we all want and deserve.
If we allow it, love can heal our wounds and offer us a sense of deep connection and satisfaction. Only when we cultivate love can we thrive and find deep fulfillment and happiness among life’s never-ending challenges. Love and social connections contribute significantly to our psychological and physical well-being. Believing in love might mean learning to embrace its complexities – the joy of connection alongside the pain of vulnerability. It could also mean recognizing that love takes effort and commitment. Love is not just a feeling. Love is not about finding or even being a perfect partner. Love is believing in each other and staying committed. Love is the willingness to be open and vulnerable, to share ourselves with the people we love, and to grow alongside them. It’s about being present in all the extraordinarily wonderful and challenging moments, and understanding that love is an ever-evolving force.
Love defines our happiness, and adds joy and wonder to our human experience. Whether you are currently basking in the glow of love, or find yourself amidst its shadows, remember that love is a journey – a rich and intricate part of our lives that is always worth exploring. We must be willing to see love in one another. Believe in love because true love is real.