Dear Love,

You're fleeting and intense, with a flair for the dramatic - but I'm so thankful for you.

You've touched my life in so many different forms over the years, which is more than some people ever experience. I don't know why you've chosen to come to me time and time again, but I'm thankful for the joy, heartache, and lessons you bring.

The first time you came to me I was only 16. You taught me more than I can ever tell you. Some people will say that 16 is too young to love, but those people would be wrong. Back then, you taught me how to connect with some one over more than just music and shared interests. You showed me how to look into a person's soul and see all their beauty, all their faults, and love them all anyway. You taught me how one person's family could become my family. You taught me about the importance of sex and love making, and how it's so hard to have one without wanting the other.

Sadly - about three years later you taught me how to let love go. You taught me to love myself more than I could love someone else, and the importance of not dragging things out. You didn't teach me how to leave with grace though, and one of my biggest regrets in life will always be trying to leave without saying goodbye, without the decency to just say "it's over" when it needs to be said.

There was this one time though, love, where you really lead me astray, and sometimes I had to question how I felt about you. How could you lead me to someone, something, so perfect for me, yet so terribly wrong at the same time? I don't understand you love. How do you pick your battles? If there is a cupid doing your dirty work, why did he shoot two people who couldn't ever be together? Why in the world did you make me compromise my principles? How did you make me so weak?

More importantly - for all the times I lay in bed, aching to be with a man who couldn't be mine, how did you manage to make that round of love so amazing and wonderful? How did you make it worth it?

It's been a few years love, and you've redeemed yourself. You came along and saved me when I was at my lowest. I had given up on you. More importantly, I had given up on me.

You brought me someone who I want to spend the rest of my days with. You brought me someone who I love with every fiber of my being. Because of you, I took a chance on a dark horse and won the jackpot. I now have someone who gives me the kind of love I have been searching for since you flirted with me back at 16.

That kind of love - unconditional.

I realize now that you love, in your purest form, are unconditional. And now I understand why you've danced in and out of my life - because I had a lot of living and growing up to do before you would show yourself in this form.

Now that you're here, I don't worry about the silly things, because I'm too busy returning love unconditionally. You've brought me someone who I can love through fights, farts, bad breath and touring. You've taught me that trust doesn't have to be learned, it just happens hand in hand with unconditional love.

You've brought me a gift I hope you never take away. Now that I have it, I just can't give it back. Now that I have learned the lesson you've taught me the hard way over the years, I'm not willing to use that knowledge on anyone else but the man I love today. Sorry to be selfish and uncompromising. I hope you understand.

Love, you're the most amazing thing I've ever experienced each time I've experience you. You've brought so many good things and people into my life, and there's no way I can ever properly thank you.

I will do my best to honour you and heed your lessons. I promise to keep letting you teach me, and I just hope you'll let my wonderful boyfriend continue to be our guinea pig.

There's no easier way to say it, thank you love.

Sincerely,

Me

*Editor's note - this is my entry for the 20 Something Bloggers February Blog Carnival. The assignment was to write a love letter. This is my love letter to love.