I remember the feeling...

     Sometimes, the most important lessons we'll ever learn are the ones that cause the most pain.  Pain that only fades with time, never to completely go away, and never letting you forget the source of that pain.  And despite the pain, anguish, sadness, and despair, life continues.  Life continues and gets better as long as you never allow yourself to forget why you felt so low, and always remember to make sure it never happens again. 

     Love is probably one of the most powerful emotions we humans are capable of.  Love will over-power nearly every other emotion if you let it.  It can cause us to feel other emotions, and it can make us do wonderful things.  It can also cause us to do terrible things.  It can spur on ugly emotions that we can't control. 

     When love first appears in our lives, we feel an amazing sense of joy and wonder.  When love leaves us, we feel overwhelming despair, and emptiness.  When love betrays us, we feel hatred and jealousy.  It can even drive away the object of our love, further adding to the pain and misery.

     If you have love, cherish it.  Respect it.  Nourish it.  Never forget the way it makes you feel.  Never take for granted that it will always be there, or when you least expect it... it's gone.

     There was a time in my life when I was much younger, and so much in love that I thought it nothing could take it away.  But, life happened and my own selfishness and stupidity slowly made love fade.  I didn't realize it at first, and when I finally did see the forest through the trees it was too late.  Try as we might, the damage was done.  I'd lost love and it wasn't coming back.

    Being in love may seem like useless frivolity to some, a waste of time and ambition to others, and to true cynics: impossible.  I can't accept any of these.  What more noble cause for living is there than to love someone so completely that your own life is important only to share that love with them?  What could be a better dream than to love someone so much that you commit yourself to them forever, and ask them to start a family with so that both of you together can give love to that family? 

    I've not yet given up on having that love.  I will find it someday and when I do, I'll be careful not to lose it.  I will cherish it, respect it, give it the nourishment it needs to grow, and never forget the way it feels- and never forget the way it felt to lose it before.

    I remember the feeling.  I want it back.  This time I'm ready.