This is the only kind of love, as I understand it, that there really is…

I’ll give you countless amounts of outright acceptance, if you want it. I will give you encouragement to choose the path that you want, if you need it. You can speak of anger and doubts, your fears and freak outs and I’ll hold it. You can share your so-called shame filled accounts of times in your life and I won’t judge it. (And there are no strings attached to it.)

You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give. You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have. I give you thanks for receiving, it’s my privilege and you owe me nothing in return.

You can ask for space for yourself and only yourself and I’ll grant it. You can ask for freedom as well or time to travel and you’ll have it. You can ask to live by yourself or love someone else and I’ll support it. You can ask for anything you want, anything at all and I’ll understand it. (And there are no strings attached to it.)

I bet you’re wondering when the next payback shoe will eventually drop. I bet you’re wondering when my conditional police will force you to cough up. I bet you wonder how far you have now danced your way back into debt.

You can express your deepest truths, even if it means I’ll lose you, and I’ll hear it. You can fall into the abyss on your way to your bliss. I’ll empathize with. You can say that you have to skip town to chase your passion. I’ll hear it. You can even hit rock bottom, have a mid-life crisis and I’ll hold it. (And there are no strings attached.)

You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give. You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have. I give you thanks for receiving, it’s my privilege, and you owe me nothing in return…

This is the only kind of love, as I understand it, that there really is…

(thank you, Alanis)