When we’re younger we all have some definition of love and what love is. In our teenage years when we have that first crush or get our very first boyfriend, we don’t think about what love really is nor do we think about what a relationship requires. Way too much for a teenager to handle or deal with. At least for me it was. I remember having my first boyfriend and when we broke up 3 weeks later (hey that was a long term relationship at that time) it was on to the next one. At that stage in life, we don’t learn many of life’s lessons about love and we certainly don’t believe the old phrase sometimes love isn’t enough.
Life has a weird way of teaching us valuable lessons about love and matters of the heart. We learn that love is truly an action word that requires more than just saying it. As I reflect over the years from my teens up until this point. I’ve picked up on five things that we all learn about love at some point in our lives.
Somebody always loves you the most when you love them the least
However strange this may sounds. Isn’t it weird how you can love someone and try to show them with every breath that you have in your body and not have it reciprocated. Unfortunately, they either don’t feel the same way or not in a position to love you the way you deserve to. Eventually, you move on with your life and just like some series of unfortunate events this person now discovers their head over heels in love with you. This would be a wonderful thing if you weren’t involved with someone else.
Someone who makes you a better person is worth keeping
There are very few people in life that will actually “move” you in life. By using the word move, I mean they inspire you unknowingly to be a better person. They don’t try to change who you are or make you someone you’re not; their presence simply makes your heart smile. They encourage and inspire you to do your very best. And motivate you to achieve whatever goals you have. The biggest mistake we make in life is letting these people go.
Relationships require work
In my opinion, the older we get the harder it is to maintain a relationship. In our teens we claim boyfriends/girlfriends but we do not fully understand what a relationship really is. In our twenties, we begin to understand the work it takes to be committed to someone. In our thirties, relationships become harder to maintain because by the time we hit that age we’ve normally suffered heartbreak and dealt with enough bullshit to make us more cautious of whom we date. We begin to take relationships more seriously because things like stability becomes more of a requirement.
Life often forces us to change
Sometimes we become comfortable and complacent with our dating/love life. We remain in relationships or we date people because we are comfortable with them. I know I’ve had moments when I’ve gotten a little bit too comfortable. Life gave me a good jolt in the ass and firm dose of reality that forced me to change certain things and step outside my comfort zone. Sometimes in life we are forced to step outside our comfort zone. What we thought we wanted ends up being something totally different and unexpected.
Sometimes love isn’t enough
There was once a time when I believed it was, but now I’m thinking that love is not enough. When I think about this statement, I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone. You can love someone and care about this person’s wellbeing but your heart may be in whole different area code or on the other side of time. Love is not enough but being in love with someone should be. At some point, you learn the difference between loving someone and being in love with someone. At least I hope you do!
What lessons has love taught you over the years?
