Trust

A lesson I didn't know I had learned was brought to my attention late last night.

In any relationship, you cannot truly be yourself and expect it to hold any fulfillment without TRUST.

The relationship that I have with my husband is the strongest I have ever known; for myself or anyone else. In the beginning we each had our own obstacles to overcome to get to where we are now, it took us a while to decide to take the chance and be together, and I don't think we would have ever gotten married if we hadn't found our peace with our individual pasts. But even the process in which we learned to be open and honest with each other, and to trust one another, led us to the point where we both realized that we could truly be ourselves with each other. When you think about how many people truly know the real you, most cannot name even one.

Duane and I are completely honest with each other. He knows my faults and my flaws, and I know his; and trust me I have done some pretty stupid things of which I was ashamed of. When I went to him with them, he didn't judge me for a second. He was there for me. He was patient and kind and sympathetic. That was a defining moment in my love for him. That was when I knew that within the boundaries of respect, he would always love me alone unconditionally. I have fallen apart a few times in front of him, and he has been there with strong and loving hands to help me pick up the pieces - always with a smile and love.

I offer the same in return to him. Not out of obligation or because I hold the title of "Wife", but because I love him. I accept him as he is, faults and all. There is no question to ask in that. He is my best friend, and I am his. We didn't expect it, we weren't looking for it to happen, it just DID.

I know that these words are more important to me than they will be to anyone else, as no one else could ever understand the capacity of love that they retain... except for my husband.

For anyone who might want to attempt to cause conflict in our relationship, I offer the honest advice that they should save their efforts. They will never understand why without having their own soul mate in their life.

Maybe this person does not exist for everyone. Maybe some are undeserving and create their own happinesses, subconsciously placing themselves in the best situations they believe they deserve. Perhaps not everyone is destined to have that one person that helps them to feel complete. That person that effortlessly you know as well as you know yourself. That person who you just know for certain, more certain than you have ever been of anything in your life, that you were meant to be with forever. There is no effort in this kind of love, there is no struggle for true happiness -

IT JUST IS.

Some might think that I am exaggerating, perhaps telling stories in order to gain something, and that this kind of fairy tale happiness doesn't really exist. Like those bitter and jaded women who believe that there is no such thing as prince charming. Perhaps that is because they expect their prince's to give, and give, and gain nothing in return. That is sad. I have nothing to gain by telling the truth but my own satisfaction in trying to teach, and I could honestly live happily with nothing more than what I already have. If nothing in my life changed, starting today, I would lead a rich and joyful life. I count my blessings each and every day.

To those naysayers though, ask yourselves, if one spends the majority of their time claiming that something does not exist, how are they to know that they will not miss it when it is right in front of them?