We, as a society, are still teaching our young women to love backwards.
The message is boldly promoted on the cover of nearly every women's
magazine. There are tools to find love, tricks to catch it and rules to
keep it. The glowing faces of the toothpick models on the covers hold
the promise of great secrets to be revealed on the pages within.
Romantic love is secondary to real love, not the reverse. When there's
an absence of love within, the void cannot be filled by reaching out
and bringing love to you.
Respecting and honoring the person you see in the mirror, is real love.
Genuine care for the lives of every citizen on the planet, is real love.
Gratitude for the things we receive from the earth and concern for
the environment, is real love.
Of course, there are exceptions to the rule: parents who nurture
the spirit of their children and teach them real love. Even more
heartening are the mentors who share their love and wisdom with
children who do not receive that type of nourishment at home.
Not a single one of us is ready for romantic love until we are truly
living in real love. When we love forward, from the inside out, we do
not seek false romance, which is a needy emotion. We seek true
romance, a love that compliments who we are and everything we
want to become.
-- Living in love and loving life,
Terri McPherson

