While this may not be the usual post on this blog, with Valentine’s Day just past, I thought I’d do a reflection on Love and what Love means to me at this time in my life.
After 20+ years of marriage, I have recently come to really reflect upon what love really is (and is not, for that matter) and what it means for me. We are all different, so you may or may not agree with my thoughts I express here. This is not an easy subject with which come easy answers. Well, perhaps the easy answers come sometimes, where at other times the answers are much more difficult and require a great deal of reflection and “unpacking” to discover.
For me, love is not just about the romance, the flowers, or the long walks in the rain.
Love is not just about late nights chatting about your common goals and accomplishments.
Love is not just about the vows you spoke. It is not just about the joys and triumphs as you raise your children together.
Those things are all lovely and are all a big part of love. Love is not all about those things, however. Not always.
Love is, at times, challenging.
Love is, at times, difficult.
My daughter recently brought me a pin home from school which read, “Love is Learning”. As I looked at this pin and repeated the words over and over in my head I realized that can not agree more with this sentiment.
Love IS Learning!
Love is learning your needs and your desires and being able to communicate these effectively.
Love is learning your own strength.
Love is having your partner accept this strength.
Love is learning about the other person. Sometimes you learn things you may not like. Sometimes you are perplexed by what you learn. Sometimes what you learn makes you do or say things that may surprise you.
Love is being open.
Love is learning to understand. Truly understand. Deeply understand.
Love is making the effort to understand things that don’t seem to make any sense.
Love is learning to grow within yourself.
Love is learning to be strong. Stronger than you ever thought you’d be.
Love is learning to search within yourself the ability to accept and try to move forward.
Love is learning to forgive.
Love is a survivor if you allow it to be.
Love is able to survive through many tragedies, if you take the time and energy to understand.
Love survives through sickness.
Love survives through loss.
Love can survive the difficulties. The pain. The hurt. The anger.
Love is powerful.
Love can prevail.
Love can be blinding though so be careful.
What is love to you?
It's All About Learning 
Beautiful post, Tia
Thanks, Christine. It was a challenging, but necessary, post to write. Sometimes, it is difficult to put out things that are more private, but it also is what makes us authentic and “real”. Of course, you understand this. Your blog is always full of wonderful, yet at times heart-wrenching, stories of your life.