my favorite song, my favorite four letter word but a notion that has alluded me for most of my life. As I watch it bloom and grow around me, or at least appear to, for the first time in my life I recognize that it is missing. And I also acknowledge my part in its absence. I got issues and, though I've come a long way, Lord knows I gots a ways to go. I guess I've really never known love, not the real kind, not the reciprocal kind. I've known what I thought was love and later found out was lust, or infatuation or codependence, or even strong like. Or maybe even some form of love, but never quite what I thought it was or wanted it to be. Though I've always envisioned myself married, I've thought myself strong, independent, ok (or so I told myself) with the prospect of living the duration of my days alone; with the love of friends, family and passions to fulfill me. I no longer feel that way, or maybe I just stopped lying to myself.
In the rearview mirror, I can see how I have blocked on myself SO many times, but I KNOW it has been more of a blessing than a curse. Because while I missed out on some good guys, I can see now that I missed out on a lot of not so good ones with one-track minds. Still, I'm thankful for male friends, they have helped me get by when I just needed a hug, or a night out, or someone to listen, to tell me I was wrong, or to pray with/for me, sing with me, make me laugh til I cry, go to church/bible study with, or reassure me that I am loved. Maybe because most of what a relationship fulfilled was fulfilled in my friendships, it took me a long time to deal with the issues that would be a very unstable foundation to build a relationship on. Distance and separation from most/all of my friends and working in a male dominated environment has forced me to discover and get to the root of such issues. I've learned SO much and realized that I do want love; no more stand ins or counterfeits, the real. And I know it starts with me. I gotta give more love, mainly to myself, but also to God and others. Just thinking...
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