Hard Love

“People avoid uncomfortable situations to 'keep the peace'. But peace isn’t the goal of a relationship. Love is. And when we love someone, we have the hard conversations in service of that love.” -Jilian Turecki

Love isn't required to ignite immediate joy

Hard love isn't about giving what is expected.

There are many pieces to a puzzle to find and place,

Hard love is about sharing what is necessary.

Hard love is about sharing what is necessary,

No matter the outcome, we share because we care.

Hard love isn't about giving what is expected,

A battle is worth encountering when our intentions are true.

A battle is worth encountering when our intentions are true,

Uncertainty is a plague we choose to conquer.

No matter the outcome, we share because we care.

Giving and receiving isn't always a smooth journey.

Giving and receiving isn't always a smooth journey,

Understanding is a magic we work towards.

Uncertainty is a plague we choose to conquer,

No amount of knowledge will free us from the truth.

No amount of knowledge will free us from the truth,

Fear and anger are spices for the recipe

Understanding is a magic we work towards.

All ingredients must be found and mixed to bake the cake.

All ingredients must be found and mixed to bake the cake,

Diligence and resilience help us stay on track.

Fear and anger are spices for the recipe,

Accept all offered as lessons to behold.

Accept all offered as lessons to behold,

Hard love isn't about giving what is expected.

Diligence and resilience help us stay on track,

Hard love is about sharing what is necessary.

I wrote this poem thinking about how the love we're offered can make us feel the opposite of what we think love is supposed to be. I've always been intrigued with the concept of hard love. Hard love, to me, is about working with the truth, something that isn't always great to accept but necessary to stay on track. Life is mysterious and love works in various ways to achieve its purpose.