For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation.
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) Bohemian-Austrian poet
“That, for me, carries so much because it’s not necessarily about a romantic relationship. It can be a parent/child relationship; it can be best friends. We overuse the word love. To me love is an important and special word because love is about action; it is about being there to support the one who is the object of your love; it’s being able to do something that’s a constant in life. It’s not something you love, or you don’t love but working every day. I think of my children, my husband, my friends and I know that I’m not always perfectly showing my love but constantly working to be vulnerable. It is the love that I try to give to my clients, pure, empathic, nonjudgmental, and 100% focused. To me that is the work of life and that’s why I just love this quote because no matter the outward success, the money, the clothes, it is all about can I be with you, can I show you my spirit, and receive your spirit, and be present, and support you in life. And to me that’s love and it is a lot of work and we forget that. As a friend of mine said the other day, ‘I think that relationships should be easy. If they’re not easy and just not gelling, then they shouldn’t be.’ I had to laugh to myself because I really think differently. I think some of the best relationships are those where we’re constantly up leveling each other. We’re up leveling the self, we’re up leveling the partner, we’re up leveling the child, and sometimes the child up levels us. Right? And so that’s my favorite quote”
Carla Manly, Ph.D., author of Joy from Fear:
Create the Life Of Your Dreams
By Making Fear Your Friend
