by JCC

Created on: February 27, 2010   Last Updated: February 28, 2010

Someone once said, "The greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."  This quote is simply beautiful.  While there is truth within this statement, it is missing one word.  To be entirely true, it should read, "The greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love and be loved in return, unconditionally." 

The truest form of love that one can experience is unconditional.  Giving unconditional love means loving someone wholeheartedly, despite faults, flaws, arguments, and hardships experienced.  In other words, when one wakes up in the morning, everything is okay no matter what has previously happened.  While it is challenging to give and receive this type of love, both parties will benefit from it. 

In order to give and receive unconditional love, one must be willing to forgive the other at any given point, even if it is extremely difficult.  Buddha once said, "To understand everything is to forgive everything."  And, Buddha is correct.  Unconditional love can be given by open-minded individuals and those who are willing to bare through the pain.  Enduring pain is the only way to become strong.  Those who are strong will benefit in the long run by having endured the experience that it takes in order to know how to give unconditional love.

When loving anyone, pain occurs for each individual due to many reasons; it's only natural.  Pain received while giving unconditional love is entirely different than pain received while giving love; unconditional love is not the same as love.  It is easy for others to take advantage of a love that perseveres.  He or she becomes accustomed to receiving ongoing forgiveness, increasing his or her ability to behave in any way without consideration.  While one would hope that another would only respond graciously for having received a love with no abound, unconditional love is often taken for granted. 

During times when a person takes unconditional love for granted, the person on the opposite end is placed in a very tough situation.  He or she has already chosen to commit to the other and forgive wrongdoings; after all, everyone does make mistakes.  Nevertheless, outsiders often see those who continuously forgive as individuals with low self-confidence.  Many people say, "Three strikes, and you're out of my life."  And, sometimes, it may only take one strike.  These individuals feel confident

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