“The Greatest act of love is loving someone so much that they learn to love themselves.” J. Shetty

I think it took close to 15 years of Todd loving me unconditionally before I believed I was lovable and worthy of love. He loved me like Christ loves His bride, he cherished me, he laid down his life for me, there’s nothing he wouldn’t have done for me, nothing, and in the end, I would have gladly traded places with him and he knew it.

We had our fights and our struggles, and even a three week separation, but we never considered divorce as an option.

I think after 15 years, I was able to reciprocate more of the depth of his love.

It took me another five to start self-care, which inspired more self love, but honestly, not until he died, and I had to draw on his love, did I really truly learn to love myself in a very tangible way.