Portugal 'family' reminds me: Love is a beautiful thing

My 'heart sister' and 'heart brother-in-law.'

I can hear the laughter as it drifts out of the open window. Bold, beautiful, tapering off and turning to whispers interspersed with soft chuckles and then the sound of lips connecting.

All of it makes me smile as I’m nestled in my chair on the patio soaking up the sunshine. It’s the sound of two people who share love; who share lives; who found each other after chapter after chapter in their respective lives might have had them write a future love story out of their lives permanently. But they didn’t. They didn’t give up on keeping their hearts open to the possibility of finding someone to share their life with. They both knew it meant taking risks and there was never a guarantee of a happily ever after. There was — and is — no guarantee of anything; this being life, after all. But they accepted those risks and everything that goes along with them.

I’m so happy they did.

These two people are two of my favourite people in the world. My 'heart sister' — a sister I’ve chosen, not one who is connected to me by blood. I know her story. I know everything she’s been through to get to this place in her life. I’ve held her, held her hand through some of her darkest hours as she doubted herself, doubted relationships, doubted love. Over the years, I’ve seen her open her heart only to close it to the wrong person. And yet, when she found the love of her life, she opened it once again, risked getting hurt, risked the peace she had worked hard to find, took the chance and followed this man halfway around the world. She said yes to love and I’m so glad she did. My heart spills over with happiness at how her life is full of love. She deserves this love, this happiness.

My 'heart brother-in-law' has a similar story. Love that wasn’t. He, too, could’ve given up, closed himself off to the possibility of finding someone to share his heart and his life with.

But he didn’t.

The two of them together bring each other joy. I listen when they laugh together, when they discuss things together (which always seems to end a very short time later with a kiss or two) and a quick clarifying remark or two, if needed.

Their relationship seems effortless although I know there is no such thing. Relationships that appear effortless are the result of  much time spent together learning each other's ways, each other's nuances and quirks. It’s about picking battles, expressing forgiveness when required and love — always loving. It’s said nothing worth having comes easily and I know the effort they both invested to get to this point; the point where their lives belong together.

I understand it because I had a relationship with My Favourite Husband that had many of the same qualities: love, respect and acceptance. I know the investment of time required to get to a place where it, too, seemed effortless. I know what it’s like to be connected to someone until, literally, death do you part.

In the past two years, I’ve had moments where I’ve questioned whether I should keep my heart open to the possibility of loving again. I am, after all, a woman who lives life with her heart wide open and on her sleeve. That means I’m always up for taking a risk and, while that risk could come with a reward, it could also come with a heart that is hurt. Is the possibility of pain worth the possibility of love?

For me, it’ll be a yes. And although I’m not seeking it, if the universe brings me someone who loves, accepts and respects me for who I am, I’m willing to take a chance and see what happens.

Why?

Because I know such relationships exist. I’ve had one. And I’ve been in the presence of one daily for the past few weeks. 

Love is a beautiful thing. ❤️