True Love

Do you believe in true love?

"True love begins when nothing is looked for in return." — Antoine De Saint-Exupery

My dad always pontificated that true love only comes after years of being together. He'd been through three failed marriages but still believed in true love. Well, he explained, someone who truly loves you will always be there. You have to work hard to be in love and it takes sacrifice. It's not the kind of sacrifice that makes you suffer—instead it leads you to happiness.

While I believe my dad, I don't think you have to be in a good or long-lasting relationship in order to experience true love. You know that your mom truly loves you. Maybe you haven't talked in years, but that doesn't change the fact that the first person you were truly in love with was your mom. It might not be romantic love, but it is true love. Not everyone goes on to experience a romantic relationship.

Beside that, how can you tell the difference between loving someone and being in love with "the one?" How can you tell you were meant to be with someone your whole life?

" Maybe true love is a decision. You know, a decision to take a chance with somebody. To give to somebody. Without worrying wether they'll give anything back. Or if they're gonna hurt you, or if they really are the one. Maybe love isn't something that happens to you. Maybe it's something you have to choose." — Love and Other Disasters

If you already made that decision, there's really nothing to worry about. Things are only as complicated as you make them.