Unconditional love is it real?

Today I had lunch with a friend who I adore for many reasons.  I adore her for her courage, honesty and the way she loves her husband.  That last bit might sound a bit strange, but I truly do admire her for the way she openly expresses her love for her husband of two years and their relationship.  They are each other’s biggest cheerleader and they are a team navigating through the ups and downs of life.  Every time I speak with her I get inspired about life and love.  All I need is half an hour with my friend and I once again believe in happily ever after and that love might actually have a chance of conquering all.

In my friends case she has found her prince charming and they are building their happily ever after.  They are a couple that I would put money on to be able to weather the greatest of storms.  Their love seems to have no limits.  Their love seems to have no boundaries.  I look up to my friend and her marriage in awe as isn’t that what we are all searching for in life?  Unconditional love? And is that what my friend has found?

Unconditional love is love without conditions.  It is no matter what is thrown at it, whether it be a life changing decision, an argument or a strong belief, the amount of love that remains between the bond is seen as unchanging.  It’s unbreakable.

I have no doubt unconditional love  is alive and real between family members, in particular parents with their children.  But what about two lovers?  What about husband and wife?  What about friends?  Can this type of bond exist between two adults in a relationship?

Deep down I am a bit of a hopeless romantic.  I have overdosed in life on romantic movies and can recite every word from start to finish of Dirty Dancing and Love Actually.  My first search on Netflix is always romantic comedies and I could happily spend my afternoons watching reruns of Gossip Girl.  My guilty pleasure.  These movies and TV Shows all have the big romances and friendships that find a way in the end. No matter what is thrown at them they find a way to overcome it and ride off happily into the sunset together.  But that is fiction.  It’s all made up for our entertainment.  Today I question my belief in unconditional love and whether I have the right to expect such love in my life.

Being thrown a curve ball like organ failure is life changing.  And not only for me, but also for the people around me.  It’s tough.  Life has changed and it will never go back to what it was.  I will never go back to what I was.  The bonds I have are being tested by this big change.  I can feel them being pushed and stretched by my new ordinary.  They are being challenged.  And the big question is will these existing bonds survive?  Are they made out of unconditional love or will they break and crumble under the pressure?

I hope they survive…. only time will tell.