Trust love

"I'll never trust again," she said. "I simply will not fall in love ever again."

I had a friend in high school who was deeply hurt by unrequited love—and said those words. She thought her pain would be reduced by closing the doorway to her heart firmly and keeping it closed. Our friendship didn't last past high school, so I often wondered how that worked out for her.

I've had times in my life, too, when I wanted to just shut the door of my heart tightly and keep out all comers. But I have learned again and again that doing so is just as painful as opening up to love again and again. In fact, for me it's more painful to close myself off to love than to risk and open myself to love.

There's no other way to experience the kindness, compassion and gifts of love but to take risks. Show love; be love; show compassion; forgive; share stories, laughter and tears; forgive again. Will you have scars and pain to show for it? Yes. And you'll also have all the gifts of love, too.