26/01/2022
What does it mean to be loved romantically? I'm not sure of the answers, but this picture shares the feeling for me. To be surrounded by soft, sturdy petals that are both a nurturing comfort and one of safety. One that holds room for your light and dark energy, for the wrinkled ages of your past. I think when we continue to heal and love ourself, we create a space for others to deeply love us.
When I think of romantic relationships, I might think love is deep affection, but that could be infactuation driven by looks or lust. Maybe love is trust, but what happens when that trust is broken by deception and lies?
Perhaps love is more than one word, more than words itsself. Maybe it's a deep feeling of intuitive knowing. I thought I felt romantic love before with each new partner. But then I learned about the three types of love we experience in our lifetime.
THE FIRST LOVE is the love we experience when we're young, usually a first crush or first "real love." It's filled with intense emotions, all-consuming, and a strong bond. We learn that love isn't what we think from movies/TV, and we learn the importance of being ourselves. We figure out how to deal with heartbreak.
THE HARD LOVE is the love that hurts and pushes you to your breaking point. It brings tears, self-sacrifice, and unbearable pain. There might have been emotional manipulation, cheating, or physical abuse. We learn that love isn't about the intense highs and lows. We take time to heal, to find our self worth, and learn how to be okay being alone.
THE "I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING" LOVE is the final love that takes you by surprised. We might still be healing from the 'hard love' and feel more protective of our emotions. This love breaks down our pre-conceived ideas and fears of what it means to be loved. Everything feels natural and easy, and that might terrify you. You gain new perspectives and come to realize it couldn't possibly be anyone else, for this love feels right and simply is.
Credit to author Francesca Forsythe, LL.M., M.Phil. on her article "The Three Types of Love We All Experience in Our Lifetime."