Brad’s friend Clarence does not know what “true love” really feels like and he’s fine with it. His friends have told him that he is selfish, but Clarence thinks he’s being independent.
My favorite part of Clarence’s post is, “People tell me one of the greatest parts of being in love is finding someone who accepts and loves you for all of your faults and weaknesses. Why do you need somebody to accept your weaknesses? They will still exist and you will still need to deal with them. I find that accepting them for yourself is much more productive rather than asking somebody else to do it for you.” (read full article)
For many people, it is tempting to ask someone to love them, because it is easier than learning how to love themselves. The truth is, very few (truthtelling) people love each other for their “weaknesses.” Rather, they love each other for their strengths enough so that they can live with each other’s weaknesses. I can’t stand even my own weaknesses most times because these weaknesses are the source of much misery.
Love yourself first. Then you know how to love another person. Sometimes it can be a learning curve, and you can learn to love yourself through loving another person. But if you only know how to love another person and not know how to love yourself, then is that true love?
Clarence’s perspective is rare in our commercialized “love” culture. It can be a constant justification, which I suspect, prompted Clarence to write publicly about his self-acceptance. It’s as if we want to find out what is “wrong” with someone who seems to be happy with himself, as a single person. When Clarence does find that special someone, he’ll be one of those boyfriends and husbands who don’t play headgames or engage in power trips with their girlfriends and wives.
One thing Clarence also isn’t worrying about right now is the “Broken Heart Syndrome” that Dr. Serani wrote about.
Finally, here’s an inspirational story about the power of commitment and true love:
First, click this link and read the story.
After you’ve read the story, click this link and see the wedding picture.
Share your stories about relationships and closures by submitting your entries to the Relationship Closure Carnival. Unlike most blog carnivals, this carnival is not always a “list of links” format. Accepted entries become a tapestry for a new post in this blog.
