Love like it's the only thing that can save you

There is this something about love, about friendship - this something which I've identified as vulnerability. When we are insecure (or/if because) we've been hurt before by friends, family, lovers...there is a tendency to hide ourselves. We hide who we are so that we don't get hurt...because when we are rejected for living as we know, it is easier to hide so that the rebukes stop. I've experienced this and it hurts now to talk about it. I've felt my trust and confidence betrayed. Sometimes the worst betrayal, is when the deceiver is in my past. Or in my heart, still there. Deceiving with fantasy. Then, if that fantasy is projected onto a real person and they reject you...or reject who you pretend to be, in your fantasy, the pain doubles. To have true relationships we must feel comfortable with who we are, at least comfortable enough to show who we really are - to be vulnerable to critisism, to rejection. Otherwise we always feel like they don't know us, and we can't share what we are thinking or feeling...and we are trapped again, alone. And nobody wants to be alone. There must be a key to putting past pain behind, being yourself, and finding people who are truly attracted to that. When people are attracted to what we really feel, to what we really think, we find validation and understanding...and to feel understood and accepted, is at the core of what we call, love. We must also find the room in our hearts to accept and understand others for who they really are - without judgement or condemnation - to allow them to be themselves. Then they will feel loved. Encourage people to show who they really are, and then validate that, and love them. Just love people for who they are rather than viewing everyone as competitors, or viewing them as obstacles, or worse - viewin them as opportunities. Give. Open handed. Open hearted. Accept, open minded. Open hearted. Love like it's the only thing that can save you. Because it is.