I recently experienced a bump in the road of wedded bliss. The argument was so trivial that it doesn't bare repeating but the feelings that it left behind do require some reflection. The gist is both Sig Other and I were left holding hurt. Mine because he hurt me and his because he hurt. There was the "conversation" in which we both explained how we felt and held accountability for our actions. All the hard work that needs to be done to maintain a healthy relationship. During this conversation I stated my boundary and drew a firm line in the sand about behavior that would not be tolerated from either him or myself. To which he replied, "I guess it's true only mother's love unconditionally."
The statement was so fascinating to me because after almost 10 years of being with him I learned something new. We think of love differently. In the conversation that followed he explained how he would love me regardless of any action I did to him, therefore loving me unconditionally. Needless to say I was shocked because my love does have conditions. It requires trust, honesty, and respect. It requires that you care for me, and treat me, yourself, and our relationship with integrity. It requires you value me as an individual as much as you value yourself. When explaining this he nodded and agreed but still felt that when all those things failed to exist he would still have love for me because his attachment is so deep that the roots of it could not die (this is me taking artistic license with his words but you get the idea).
That night as I slept next to this person whom I love as much as my next breath I wanted to cry because my love could never be like his. My love is fierce and true but if it is not fed, if it is not nurtured, it will wither away and die. Rolling over I snuggled up to the one that I have chosen to give my love to and in that moment I realized that "loving" was not going to be enough, it would take work.
As always I find solace and inspiration in poetry and here is a one by Pablo Neruda that articulates most eloquently how I feel.
If You Forget Me
I want you to knowone thing.
You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.
Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.
If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.
If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.
But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.
This poem was taken from PoemHunter.com. www.poemhunter.com
oooh I hope you two can get past this point, grow and strengthen what you already have built. I can agree with the love having stipulations. I don't love unconditionally. There are boundaries and "no-no's" that you don't do. At least you two are being open and are communicating.
ReplyDeleteAs always, profound, thought-provoking, and deep.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful a little sad and very true. Gorgeous post.
ReplyDeleteI tried your husband's definition of unconditional love twice. It will not last and your husband could not live with a love like that. Your parents have unconditional love for you, they raised you with rules, standards, and the demand for respect towards other and for yourself. That is the true definition of love. Your view of love is the only one that will grow. You can bend the rules sometimes (thats brings forgiveness) but you don't break them (that is betrayal).
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