tale as old as time

When you have a realization that your biggest mistake may not be your biggest regret, it's kind of like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

There are many stages of realizing that you love someone and the stages of love. There is the moment when you think it, the moment when you think you know it, the moment when you know you know it but you just can’t say it, and the moment when you know you know it but you can’t keep it in any longer. Some people can breeze through these stages within the hours of meeting someone, others take longer periods of time to go through each step.

The part that makes you nervous inside is when you feel like these steps have come out of order and there is no way to take them back. But when you learn that these thoughts are okay, perfectly normal, and accepted...you begin to feel at ease instead of controlled and bottled like you had before.

The part that will frighten you is when you begin to feel like you are falling out of love. The fear that we have or are saying something that may not be true will consume you. But in the end, you have to do what is right for you. Even if it is difficult. Even if it is not the best time. Even if it means hurting someone that you do love. Even when you know that there will be consequences.

"God, grant us the
Serenity to accept things we cannot change,
Courage to change the things we can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference
Patience for the things that take time
Appreciation for all that we have, and
Tolerance for those with different struggles
Freedom to live beyond the limitations of our past ways, the
Ability to feel your love for us and our love for each other and the
Strength to get up and try again even when we feel it is hopeless. "