Another corner turned in life

[Gillian Gigs]

There was a new corner turned this weekend. I have been really working at being more accepting of myself in the last year. This self acceptance thing is something that my wife has been noticing. I have been of the thought for a long time that I need to be more accepting of myself, so I could be more loving of others. As in, "love your neighbor, as yourself". This may seem obvious to you, but I was not loving others, because I was not loving and accepting of myself. Having gained inroads in this area, it has had some interesting impacts within my marriage. There has been more open love and affection than ever before. By example, I rarely said I love you to her in the past, and now she hears it daily. My wife has started to share some of her deep secrets and desires, possibly as a result of a more loving environment. Well she and I have had our compromises in regards to my CDing, and in one conversation this weekend, they were all wiped off the map. Her words were basicly, "who am I not to let you wear what you want, If I love and accept you and you love and accept me". "You can wear what ever, and it will not bother me any more". If she says this, then it is true, she does not use her words lightly. I never saw my journey of self acceptance having this kind of end result. All I wanted was to be able accept myself, to love others and accept them also. Now this love seems to be multipling back toward me, an unexpected result. Wow, it makes me want to cry because I love her so much more now.

[kimdl93]

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make..... Well, its not exactly what I wanted to say, but hey, its the Beatles, right!

Gillian, you're not alone. I suppose most of us have suffered from the self inflicted wounds of self loathing. Its a cliche, but true, that one really can't love another person if you can't love yourself first. Gaining self acceptance made me a better person - more capable of loving, but also capable of living on my own. Once you love yourself, love is a gift to give, rather than a need or craving to be satisfied. And then, well the above quote makes sense.

[Joanna41]

All that I can say is congratulations on your progress and for improving your relationship with your wife! That's so great to hear!

Joanna

[Kittyagain]

Gillian, that is just wonderful. I can tell you this, it only gets better. Love, there is better bond in life.

Kitty

[SusanCACD]

I am crying right now, be sure to tell her you love her forever
Susan

[*Vanessa*]

Congrats Gillian :)

It's great to hear of good results for such hard work from the both of you. I don't have anything trippie to say other than 'we are the seeds we plant'.

v.

[carhill2mn]

What a great story! Thanks for sharing.

[Cynthia Anne]

The greatest thing about 'true' love is that it rewards you with 'TRUE' love! Thanks for the wonderful story! Hugs!

[SarahLynn]

"And I give to you and you give to me
True Love, true love....

So on and on it'll always be
True Love, True love."

SarahLynn

[erickka]

It just goes to prove a couple of things that we have heard forever...
You reap what you sow and...
What goes around comes around
Congrats on your progress, Gillian.

[jillleanne]

And so, the happiness begins. You have both opened up to truth and honesty and found true love and peace. Congrats hon, and welcome to the club. It just gets better and better with time.