What is love?

Love comes in many forms... and there should be many words for love in the English language. Love for family, love for friends, and of course the love everyone is searching for, romantic love.

The love I have for my family is the strongest love I have ever felt. Then of course I love my friends dearly and would do anything for them. I never thought I would find that romantic love, but over a year ago I was able to open my heart to someone else. It was such an exciting and liberating feeling. I'll never forget the day I realized I was in love. For the first time I thought of the future-- a year or 2 down the line and this person was in it. It was really cool. I had never had that sense of vulnerability or necessity for another person. But just with every relationship in life there are times that test you as a person and as a couple. Whenever disagreements start it could mean it is the beginning of the end of this romantic relationship. But does that mean it has to be the end of the relationship? I mean you've invested so much time, love, and devotion into this person. Why end it on a sour note to where you go off calling each other names and looking at all of the flaws in the relationship?  For this reason the wonderful man I fell in love with and I decided we would take a break. We are in pivotal points in our lives where we have to chose a path that could dictate our future. Which job do I get? Where do I want to live? What the heck do I even want to do with my life? Sometimes it is too hard to make those decisions with the expectations that come with a relationship.

But you have so many precious, and fantastic memories with this person... it is so hard to let go of that romantic relationship that you so deeply felt for what seems like forever. So I have found that love is letting a person go and hoping your paths will stay side by side no matter which type of relationship you're in... even if it hurts, and even if there's doubt. For whatever reason life has a way of working itself out. I am a firm believer in fate, so if it's meant to be down the road it will be. It is best to demote each other down to friend in order to  preserve the relationship instead of let things get to the point of blowing up. Arguments are never fun, and no one should be in an unhealthy relationship. I am glad that we were mature enough to see that this was the solution we both needed. He needs to figure out what he wants out of life and find the happiness within. I need to roam around pursing my wild dreams.

If it is a time of growth and direction change in your life there is nothing wrong with putting things on pause. I've been in my apartment moping on and off for hours because this is a scary time in my life, and because the thought of losing someone I love is the saddest feeling ever. But through our conversations and the willingness to stay best friends I find the true meaning of love... and for that I am eternally grateful. I hope and pray that we will be able to cultivate a better friendship, work through the pain and come out stronger on the other side.

I just feel so honored that I got to be in this chapter of  R's life as his partner, and I am just so happy that we can continue to write our stories together. I hope that you can experience honest love in your life... which in turn means being selfless and doing what's best for the other person (and the other person being selfless for you).


R, if you're reading this I wish I could explain to you the impact you've had on my life. It has been nothing but positive. Thank you for giving me the chance to get to know you on this level and picking me to be your girlfriend. You are an amazing person and I know we will continue to make memories down the road. I love you from the bottom of my heart and always will.

Simply Live: in that you are not afraid of love and loss... for there is no loss when you truly love.
Live Simply: feel the flow of your relationships and always be willing to meet people where they are.

Love always,
Alyssa