The Only Kind of Love

Marianne Williamson and Alanis Morisette
reposted from an April 20, 2008 blog entry, but still so relevant...


I saw Marianne Williamson speak today. As ever, I was transfixed by her breathtaking energy and generosity of spirit. She quoted the book, eat, pray, love, citing an old woman who said that all of the conflict in the world comes down to two things: How much do you love me? and Who's in charge?
As I look at my life, and the beautiful relationships I've been blessed to form, the answers seem pretty simple to me right now. I'm in charge of me. You're in charge of you. And I know you love me very much, just as I love you. This is the first time in my life that these answers have been so clear, and it looks pretty good from here. As Marianne said today, "There is the complexity of life, and then there is the simplicity of truth."
It all put me in mind of a favorite old song by Alanis Morisette (who, by the way, seems to have written the soundtrack of my life.) It's called "You Owe Me Nothing In Return."

I'll give you countless amounts of outright acceptance if you want it.
I'll give you encouragement to choose the path that you want if you need it.

You can speak of anger and doubts, your fears and freak outs, and I'll hold it.

You can share your so-called shame filled accounts of times in your life and I won't judge it,

and there are no strings attached.

 You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give.

You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have.

I give you thanks for receiving; it's my privilege,

and you owe me nothing in return.


You can ask for space for yourself, and only yourself, and I'll grant it.

You can ask for freedom as well, or time to travel, and you'll have it.

You can ask to live by yourself, or love someone else, and I'll support it.

You can ask for anything you want, anything at all, and I'll understand it,

and there are no strings attached.


I bet you're wondering when the next payback shoe will eventually drop.

I bet you're wondering when my conditional police will force you to cough up.

I bet you wonder how far you have now danced your way back into debt.

This is the only kind of love, as I understand it, that there really is.
 

You can express your deepest of truths, even if it means I'll lose you, and I'll hear it.

You can fall into the abyss on the way to your bliss and I'll empathize with.

You can say you have to skip town to chase your passions and I'll hear it.

You can even hit rock bottom, have a mid-life crisis, and I'll hold it,

and there are no strings attached.


You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give.

You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have.

I give you thanks for receiving; it's my privilege,

and you owe me nothing in return.

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