"True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance...."

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be and will not be." (Unknown)

I've often lamented the fact that I never thought I knew what true love really is.   Growing up, there were no examples for me to learn by or base my actions/reactions/feelings on.   As like so many other areas of my life, I learned by the "sink or swim" method.    I've become quite adept at dog-paddling because more often than not, I'm in "sink" mode.

All that being said, I can say without a shadow of a doubt, with 100% certainty that I have discovered what true love is.  It's been a tough lesson.  There were many times of exuberant joy, but more often than not, hurt and pain led the field.  I've learned that in opening ourselves to all of the wonderful possibilities of love, we also open ourselves up to all of the heartache that seems to be a part of the "true love" package deal.

Accepting the limitations of this love has been a challenge.  Like I said, I'm a "sink or swim" kind of gal.  A do-er.  Not a wait-er.  A leader.  Not a follower.  I make things happen.   I don't wait for things to happen.  In short, I'm impatient and impetuous.  I've always expected others to operate under my timeframe, my schedule.

But all of those expectations have changed.  I now realize that temperance, acceptance, and patience are as necessary to life as breathing and eating.   It wasn't everyone else who needed to change.  It was me.  And I have.    I am no longer the person I was a year ago.  I can't even remember who she was.  I don't recognize myself now, but hopefully I'll get to know myself all over again.

I've accepted that this "true love" was a wonderful, blessed experience in my life.  It was all I could have hoped for - and more.  My imagination couldn't have made it any sweeter.  But I can't accept the happy without the sad.  And the sad is knowing and accepting that this love that was, will never be.   There is a time and a season for everything.  My true love has come to an end.  It's time and season are over.

The pain will go away - I know that.  Time heals all wounds and all of that stuff.   Eventually the pain in my heart will be replaced with the joy and happiness that made the "true love" ride worthwhile.  I relish the day that transformation takes place.