by Violet Scott

Created on: November 14, 2008   Last Updated: December 23, 2008

True love is, very simply, pure, complete acceptance. It is unconditional, and it is shown. Every human on this planet needs love, just as much as the water we drink or the air that we breath, and we get love from many different sources throughout our life. Mothers, Fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, and family. But, true love from a life partner requires more scrutiny.

When I said that true love is acceptance, I meant just that. It is accepting the other person's flaws, their imperfections, and thier habits, and loving them, not despite these traits, but because of them. It is accepting their wants and needs with an understanding that their wants are the same as your wants, their needs are the same as your needs, and vice-versa. Because if somebody's needs are not being met, neither partner will be happy. Acceptance also means being open and understanding, willing to listen and agree to work towards a solution if and when problems arise. It means accepting what your partner has to offer, and making to sure to offer what they require to be happy ( obviously, barring any kind of abuse, etc..), and understanding that they are another human being, with needs different than you own, and never expecting them to scale their requirements according to yours. Acceptance also means that when they are angry, sad, or upset, you do not turn them away. You open to them and help to absolve their pain, you try to identify with their emotions, instead of blocking them out. It means that you relish the good times, and allow the worse times to offer their opportunities for growth.

True love is unconditional. It never expects another person to adopt their way of thinking, it never uses love as a tool to get what it wants out of the relationship. It never says 'if'. It never requires change in one person or their personality. It doesn't require anything but love in and of itself. True love strives to communicate effectively, so that important emotions don't get lost in the translation. It is patient, and reassuring, and never selfish.

True love is shown. It is proven at every opportunity. Because people tend to forget that which is not demonstrated consistently throughout their everyday life. It is shown just for the joy of showing somebody how much you love them. It is dispensed with no thought of reciprocation, only with the intention to give. True love is selfless, and giving, and caring. But it is also accepting the love from another. True love is patient, and kind, and strong. It is a willingness to take on anything life can bring it's way, knowing that you'll be all that much stronger for it, and with true love by your side.

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