(no subject)
"For one human being to love another is the most difficult task of all. It’s the work for which all other work is mere preparation."
-Rainer Maria Rilke
So far, in my life, this quote cannot hold any more true.
To love is to give yourself up totally, utterly, to enable being loved in return. As much as we like to believe that, once we fall in love, our lives continue to be our own. It couldn't be more false. There's a vulnerability that comes from loving a person, wholly.
Though, one can only realize that the love is true and unconditional when they can be completely themselves throughout. One must never lose themselves, because then it simply falls to devotion; infatuation.
Earlier this week, I was remembering a time when I gave in to settling for devotion, masking it for myself as love. I professed this young love saying that, "I've found the person I want to be with for the rest of my life, I am so lucky!" Little did I know that was only the tip of this never-ending and life-changing iceberg. I've made so many mistakes from then and now, and have nowhere to go but up. To imagine that the feeling is still in me for this same person, is a beautiful thought. Though, what started as infatuation; young-love; one-sided devotion, has grown into what I can only call unconditional and absolute love and adoration. When all this began I never thought I would lose myself then find myself again, in the same relationship. When it all first started, I assumed so many things. I expected so many things. I changed in so many ways, and I've evolved to become this completely enlightened soul who belongs to another but is still her own. The word happiness doesn't seem to cover how I feel about this discovery. This feeling is so much more profound. When I first realized that I could be myself and not be judged around the person I've chosen to love most that is not of my own flesh and blood, my face hurt from smiling so much. Even though, this whole relationship seems to be an uphill battle, it's become quite plain to me that this is the one worth the effort, any and all effort. I am ridiculously content truly knowing that after nearly seven years, I've grasped this ever-fleeting emotion.
-Rainer Maria Rilke
So far, in my life, this quote cannot hold any more true.
To love is to give yourself up totally, utterly, to enable being loved in return. As much as we like to believe that, once we fall in love, our lives continue to be our own. It couldn't be more false. There's a vulnerability that comes from loving a person, wholly.
Though, one can only realize that the love is true and unconditional when they can be completely themselves throughout. One must never lose themselves, because then it simply falls to devotion; infatuation.
Earlier this week, I was remembering a time when I gave in to settling for devotion, masking it for myself as love. I professed this young love saying that, "I've found the person I want to be with for the rest of my life, I am so lucky!" Little did I know that was only the tip of this never-ending and life-changing iceberg. I've made so many mistakes from then and now, and have nowhere to go but up. To imagine that the feeling is still in me for this same person, is a beautiful thought. Though, what started as infatuation; young-love; one-sided devotion, has grown into what I can only call unconditional and absolute love and adoration. When all this began I never thought I would lose myself then find myself again, in the same relationship. When it all first started, I assumed so many things. I expected so many things. I changed in so many ways, and I've evolved to become this completely enlightened soul who belongs to another but is still her own. The word happiness doesn't seem to cover how I feel about this discovery. This feeling is so much more profound. When I first realized that I could be myself and not be judged around the person I've chosen to love most that is not of my own flesh and blood, my face hurt from smiling so much. Even though, this whole relationship seems to be an uphill battle, it's become quite plain to me that this is the one worth the effort, any and all effort. I am ridiculously content truly knowing that after nearly seven years, I've grasped this ever-fleeting emotion.