concerning:: self respect

For the absolute longest time, I questioned what love is and how much it really can affect your life and the choices that you make. What I've come to find is that it is completely possible to meet the one person who, while kissing you, makes chillbumps run up your spine as the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. These kisses from this perfect person make you forget what time it is, or if the concept of time really exists at all, or if it ever even did. During this most perfect kiss, you are blind to everything that surrounds you, and in this one moment, you wish you could freeze time forever. However, it is absolutely necessary for the kiss to end and for the clock to start taking records of what minute it is, and which hour of your life you are currently enjoying. These kisses are a rarity, and they are this way for a reason. The most important thing is the person who is sharing the kiss with you. And, when you take the second to really look into their eyes, you realize that they are in your life for a reason. Because you met this person, your life will never be the same, and you'll never want it to. You'll crave this person's arms around you, because when they are, you finally feel safe from all of the things you've been desperately trying to escape. And, for the first time in years, you can inhale and exhale freely. This person, this man, this godsend, really loves you for the person you are, and sees every possibility in the world every time they see you smile. You see, I'm lucky enough to have been through bad relationships. I thank God for knowing ahead of time that through the darkest point of my life, there was light ahead. And, I saw this light the first time I ever saw his face. And, from this, for once, I know every single thing I've ever needed to know. I've never been more content in my life. I feel safe. I feel needed. I feel so much LOVE surrounding me each day, and while most of it comes from him, a tiny fraction of this love comes from the fact that because of him, I finally found reason to respect myself. And, when you respect yourself, you can love yourself. Because of this, I finally am allowed to love someone else with all of my broken, tattered, and ever so flawed heart. He fills me up to my very core and I couldn't possibly be happier if I tried. There is no amount of money, power, fame, or promises that could ever tempt me to leave his side. For the first time in my entire life, I know I was in the right place at the right time, even if it was just once. Sometimes, however, once is enough.