LOVE: LIFE LESSON'S ON LOVE

This is one of my favorite stories of all time and a place where I can look back and watch my life change.  All in a single moment.

Grab a coffee, sit back and join me for a ride on the life lesson train.

Let me start by saying that I love asking people about their most embarrassing moments.  Not only is it entertaining for me, but I am able to learn so much about a person from their stories about  “falling” out of their comfort zone and their temporary humiliation – usually, all with a smile on their face.

I, however, was born a wee bit of a klutz, so some people’s most embarrassing moments are just “Daily Alex Moments.”  If there is a drink I will spill it; a rock, I will trip over it.  Let’s just say I gave up wearing white years ago.

So when people ask me about my most embarrassing moment, I always look at it a little differently than most.  For me, it is not about spilling or tripping, but about times where I was less than my best with people I care about.  This one is a doozy.

I got sick one week.  It was a pretty stressful time for me and my body was taking the brunt of it. My girl friend at at that time...Joanne came over to take care of me..to this day, I don’t remember what exactly she said, but whatever it was it made me so upset that I slammed down the cherry container spraying cherries everywhere and said some mean things..

I was instantly horrified by my actions I could not believe what I had done.  I could not believe that I could treat a woman like that who drove to see me.I heard the stairs creaking underneath her feet as she made her way to my room.  A wave of nausea came over me.  As she walked into the room, I was crying too hard to even stutter out a “I’m so, so, so sorry.”  I just sat there sobbing, face red, nose running, paralyzed.

She looked over at me, smiled, walked towards me and hugged me in a way that I knew she wasn’t letting go for awhile.  Then she said, “I shouldn’t have said that, I am sorry if I hurt your feelings.”

I instantly started crying more and the flood gates opened.  I started babbling through the tears and confessing about how I was a horrible person. She pulled away from me, put her hands on my shoulders and smiled. She then said something that would change me forever.  “I love you Alex and not just the good stuff.  I love the good stuff, the bad stuff and everything in between.  I love the whole Alex package.”

At that moment I felt it.  True unconditional love.  It was amazing.

Looking back, I realize now that up until that moment I always thought love had conditions. I thought I needed to look my best, be on my best behavior and aim for perfect to be loved.  I mean who would want to love my flaws? There were plenty.  However, Alex taught me that day when you get past the beginning stuff and the “real” you shows up (which it is going to end up doing anyway) that is where the real love exists.  It is not about only the good stuff, but about the whole package.

Life is a constant learning process for me and I am the last person to say I have the answers, but I will tell you that I have learned that in this crazy journey there is always a whole package, whether you see it right away or not.  I hear a lot of men joke about finding their princess, but secretly in the back of their minds I know they’re hoping she exists,.  But here is something that I have been contemplating lately: I love the rush of a crush.  The excitement of new romance.  The breath stopping need for passion. But what I’ve learned is the love that shows up later is the most satisfying.