True Love Exists. The Evidence...

When I still lived in the UK I used to work as a lawyer in family matters, and this meant that my clients were often people going through tough times, frequently as a result of divorce. I learnt a lot in that period about human nature, and about the fact that you never really know what is going on in someone else's life, however fine things may appear on the outside.

I did this type of work for almost ten years, and I came to the belief that it would be a good thing for every married couple to retake their vows every few years.  This way they would really have to think about why they were together and what they loved about their husband or wife.  The idea being that hopefully they would start to appreciate the other person rather than taking them for granted, and be able to celebrate the positives in front of family and friends. I still think this is a good idea.

However cynical you may be about love, this week I was shown evidence from two friends of mine that it really does exist, and I wanted to share this little story with you in case your own hope is fading...

Kyosti and Maritta have become good friends of mine since we met through the Somero English Club.  They have been together for the last fourteen years.  Last year Maritta took a year off work just so that they could spend time together, go travelling and enjoy each other's company, which I thought was a great idea.

This week though, I saw each of them individually. On Tuesday evening a few of us sat together and played some favourite tracks of music, the idea being that we would then explain what made it special to us. Maritta played a Finnish song by Matti and Teppo called "Ensimmainen" (the first), and said very movingly that it would always be her special song because when she first met Kyosti he worked away a lot, and he told her that every time he heard this song it made him think of her.  I was impressed. To say that after fourteen years together, and to pick that song, is already an achievement.

Then the next day I bumped into Kyosti in the bakery.  We talked about the concept of "happiness" and things that made us feel good. He said spontaneously that what made him feel the happiest was when Maritta got home from work and put her arms round him and they could just be together again.

These two stories, from two people I have grown to love and respect over the last few months, really made me smile. Love exists...and here it is! So many people split up and get divorced these days, or don't really feel loved in their own relationship anymore, and both scenarios are sad. Kyosti and Maritta though, show that it doesn't have to be that way, even after a long time together.  So this post is to celebrate them...both separately and together... thank you K and M...you give us all faith that love really is out there somewhere, and it's fantastic that the two of you have found it. So to those of you who are still searching, don't give up - true love really is out there if you have the faith to look for it.  Happy searching.