“It goes both ways. I care for you but you have to allow me. It is actually a very similar thing with love. You have to love me. And I, well, I have to let you love me.”

Sometimes, the most romantic thing a person can do is hand you a thought they’ve been carrying for years. They do so gently, as though it might break in your hands. It could be a memory wrapped in a metaphor or a belief they’ve never said aloud until now. These moments are quiet offerings as invitations to step into their interior world.

In Buddhism there is a phrase, “the glance of mercy,” which refers to looking at other human beings with acceptance and understanding. Acceptance means we are received respectfully with all our feelings, choices, and personal traits and supported through them. This makes us feel safe about knowing and giving ourselves to others. Our ability to be i

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