live to love again

not all relationships that "don't work" necessarily are "bad"

each of us brings our own bucket of pain; each of us runs the risk of pouring from that bucket

and shattering the safety nets of those we love; it is human nature

love is the arena in which we are least equipped to "succeed" yet it is the arena, too, in which we may find the greatest joy

love those you've loved, even after they have gone

there was a reason you loved them; it didn't go away

your bucket of pain, perhaps, just overflowed and washed away the core of how you loved them

this process runs both directions; their pain, their history, may have blinded them in ways they couldn't fully control

and their buckets may have flowed, unimpeded, towards you and washed away their love for you

if we could always stay at a high level, fully awake, our self-esteems fully secure

surely, we would; but that is not always possible

this is a hard one, I know -- a lesson with which many of us (me included) struggle; but it is a vital one, as well

forgive, love, move forward

not everything we do is 100 % "conscious"; forgive and live to love again