Hello Love's,
How are you?
As a young kid, I did not know love. Nobody ever said they loved me. Nobody hugged me. Nobody held me.
There were not kind words in my home. As the youngest child, I was the butt of the jokes and pranks by siblings and parents.
I was told that if the big A had been legal, I might not have ever been born.
My earliest memory of my brother was the daily beatings he gave me. My parents told me to stay away from him.
When I was a decade old, a friends dog had puppies. I begged to be allowed to have one for my own. I was there when she was born. She looked Beagle though the mama dog was just a mutt. Her father lived down the road from us. Shockingly, my request was approved.
I brought her home and started potty training her. I tucked her into bed to sleep with me. She followed me. Kissed my face. If I accidentally stepped on her, she jumped and wagged her tail. Instant forgiveness. No grudge. She loved me no matter how I mucked up.
I had never had anyone human or otherwise offer forgiveness. Offer love just because I was breathing.
Like the Grinch, my heart swelled three sizes.
This unconditional love was my first and best lesson in love.
I have been loved by humans - never unconditionally though.
Well, our mini humans love us unconditionally. Then they grow and become adults, LOL.
I have never felt unconditional love from an adult.
How many adults have truly loved you unconditionally?
Is your love unconditional?
I have tried and I have failed.
I do get impatient. I may be slow to forgive.
I do apologize. And I try to do better.
Life is a journey.
Unconditional love is my goal. Both to give and to receive.
And this is the short version of how a dog taught me about unconditional love.
Have a wonderful day!
xoxox
Pony
Pic is just a random Beagle who resembles the one I had as a kid.
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30 comments
It sounds like you have turned out to be a loving person, Pony, despite your upbringing. I know it's not cool these days to belong to a church, but I think you will find a lot of unconditional love there. Happy Holidays!
I have found wonderful loving churches. Which was surprising after being raised in an uptight, judgmental Catholic church.
My father did. I was blessed with a dad that never gave up. (My parents were divorced so he raised me and my sister.) He was there even in the roughest of times. To him, he was just being a dad. To me he was my hero. He's been gone a few years now and I still cry when I think about him.
Oh Cuddle, what a blessing you dad was!!! I am so happy you had him. I pray your grief becomes more bearable in time.
Hugs!!
@PonyGirl1965 grief takes time. some days are easier then others. HUGS
@CuddleMe2Sleep A good friend and I were talking recently about losing someone special. She said her grief has never gone away, never really lessened. She just learned to live with it. She lost her hubby 10 years ago.
I don't think there are conditions on love. The conditions are whether we will tolerate the pain a loved one causes. People can leave the situation but the love is still there (or it wouldn't hurt)
Loved ones do cause pain. I wish they didn't.
Hugs!!
It sounds like you have blossomed since leaving home I hope your life is more fulfilling now.
Life is definitely better
OMG, my husband would just die for that Beagle! He has always loved that breed. But we are done with animals. We want to be able to go places - visit the kids, take off on the bike, etc.
Hubby is my ride or die, always has been. We "rescued" each other when I was 15, and he was 21. My mother had died when I was 5, and I was always looking for someone to fill that huge hole. His parents divorced after a long, abusive relationship, and he was paying rent for his mom, 3 of his siblings, and his niece. Enough was enough, and he moved out, so we could have privacy. Ever since then, we've said "fuck the world", and focused on each other. He's my angel.
You two have a wonderful, blessed relationship! I am so happy you have one another.
Hugs!!
I know my parents loved me but they weren’t super affectionate. I just thought that was the way things were with parents and I do think it was more common during the 60’s/70’s. I’m glad you ended up having a pet to give you affection.
There is little doubt that dogs are the perfect example of unconditional love.
Sorry for all you endured as a youngster. You seem quite remarkably loving despite all that. 🤗
My gift in life is love. No matter how many people I love, there is always a big well of love to add in someone new!!
Hugs!!
I am sorry you went through that as a child I know how it feels, I didn't have the greatest parents either. I had the greatest grandparents though and looked forward to every Friday when my grandpa would pick me up after school to spend the weekend with them. Oh I how I miss them.
I had to raise my siblings pretty much because my mother was never home after she divorced my dad. But it is what it is and I made the best of it. And yes the youngins always give us unconditional love. That's the best feeling in the world I have to say.
I am so glad you got to keep your puppy and she gave you the unconditional love that you so deserved.
I hope you enjoy a very happy and warm hump day..
Hugs
T
God bless the grandparents!! They can save us too.
Hugs!!
A brautiful heartfelt story I would give you a long full body hug for the lady you have become...xoxo
Ahhh thank you!! I will hug you right back!!
My parents loved me unconditionally, and perhaps a few friends, girlfriends and pets.
That is beautiful Spunky!! I am so happy
Hugs!!
You’ve highlighted something important — unconditional love often comes to us first through animals. The way you described your dog’s forgiveness and joy is powerful. I understand that connection with dogs — losing Molly after she turned 14 was devastating, and it reminded me how deeply they teach us about love. Sharing both the struggles and your desire to love unconditionally makes this a powerful piece.
Thank you Sexy.
I feel blessed that I did learn unconditional love. It made me a better parent and partner in life.
Hugs!!
I can relate to you. I don't know as humans there exists unconditional love.
When I had bb's, I felt we shared unconditional love. Though maybe they just knew they needed me to survive, LOL. As they grow though, the world intrudes. It pollutes us all.
Hugs!!!
@PonyGirl1965 So true the world does intrude and destroys the innocence.
Sorry to hear of childhood. Glad found unconditional love with your pup 🐶
Childhood made me a strong chickie.
Hugs!!
I had the same problem with my older brother; but I gave as good as I got and he has some scars to prove it. When I was much younger, I believed in unconditional love, until I got stung. I am probably misquoting, but you have to love yourself unconditionally before you can others. There must have been times , like when you and Cowboy were dating, wedding, honeymoon, etc. when you knew that type of love .... fleeting as it was .
When we were dating, I thought it was unconditional.
Hugs!!
Yes! I relate to your life experience. Our pets do offer unconditional love! I have had many friends and I have felt loved unconditionally!
I am so happy that you have enjoyed unconditional love
Hugs!!