I used to think that love would conquer everything. That you would burn down the whole world just to see a simple smile on the person you loved.
This is not true. In fact, it might have been a lie we have been telling ourselves.
We need courage to fight for it. We need a kind heart to care for it. We need honesty to face it. We need patience to nurture it. Love does not give you these things.
What does love do, then?
Love shines a light on your heart. It brings out what is already inside. If you are courageous, love gives you the chance to show it. If you are cowardly, love makes that clear too. It is just a torch. Not a weapon.
Love doesn’t magically bring any good qualities into you. It simply brings out what is already there, and gives you a chance to express it.
A lot of people hurt the people they love. A lot of people cheat on the people they love. A lot of people can’t fight for the people they love. A lot of people can’t be honest with the people they love. A lot of people give up on their love. Had love been the super formula to have it all, they would have never done any of this. But it wasn’t. Love alone is not enough.
Love is not a solution. It is a question: one that asks you what is inside you. What are you made of?
To feel love truly in your lifetime, and to truly express it to someone, is a blessing. But that alone just can’t cut it.