practice makes perfect...even in love

"Ask yourself the secret of your success. Listen to your answer, and practice it." Richard Bach

As I've said before, I'm not able to express love easily and that has really begun to trouble me, which is why I started this blog to begin with. I have come to realize that just because something doesn't come naturally to me, doesn't mean I can't learn it and it certainly doesn't mean I won't eventually master it.

LOVE is no different from any other activity or aspect I choose or desire to include in my life -- if I want to be excel at it, I have to practice it. DAILY.

Would I expect to become a marathon runner without first learning to walk?  Of course not, I have to build on the basics...and then commit to taking action, i.e. that first painful jog. After that, I'd have to continue to take action every day, building my strength and stamina....working my way up to an easy/breezy 5K... and eventually pushing my body and mind beyond what I originally thought was possible -- 26 incredible miles.

Can the impossible become possible?  Of course, but even miracles don't happen overnight.

I can roll out of bed today completely inspired and make a declaration to the world that I INTEND to run a marathon. But I can't roll out of bed and immediately start running it today. Not without giving it time and energy. And not without continued practice.

Every single thing we do, and everything we accomplish in this life begins first with an INTENTION, followed up with ACTION....which is energized with ongoing COMMITMENT!

Love is no different. We all want it in our lives and we all expect it in our lives. But how many of us get up each morning and nurture love? How many of us commit to love every day in the same way that we commit to the other things in our lives -- like our jobs, or our exercise regimens, or our writing?

Yes, we love our spouses, our children, our families, our friends. But how many of us take that love for granted? Do we give as much energy to the people we love as we do to the busy activities that make up our days??

I also have to wonder --  how much time and energy do we give towards loving ourselves? Do we feed and nourish our souls every day? Or do we allow ourselves to feel empty and depleted inside? Do we keep our minds and bodies so busy and push ourselves past exhaustion in such a way that keeps us from practicing love daily? Because in order to share kindness, compassion, and love we have to first practice and give those things to ourselves.

If you do put love first and foremost each and every day, then I applaud you. You are way ahead of the game, as far as I am concerned. You are a WARRIOR of LOVE.

Me, I'm taking my first tentative jogs in the LOVE MARATHON I eventually intend to run. However, once I start running that marathon...I don't intend to stop.