Unconditional

Is it possible to love someone unconditionally? Let's discuss.

To love someone unconditionally is to say that you will love them absolutely; love them with no limits or conditions.

Before I begin my critique, let me start by saying that I love many people in my life. I love my fiancee (who just happens to be my best friend and soon to be husband), I love my family and I love my friends.

Does my love for those people in my life with whom I converse most freely and expose many innermost feelings to know no bounds? No. Do I think that unconditional love is even possible? Sure, but the blinders would have to been super glued to the eyes and the body pointed in one position to avoid seeing "things."

Let's say that I love friend Y. Y and I have been always been close. I lean on Y. I depend on Y. I want Y to be part of my life for many years to come. Does that fondness mean that there is nothing Y could do to deteriorate our relationship or make me question my affection? No. I think that Y could potentially do something to hurt our relationship (thus, in my mind, making the relationship conditional). To take my argument to the extreme, let's say that Y tried to kill me. Would I still love Y? That would probably depend on the situation, but the relationship would certainly suffer. If Y stole from me I would question our relationship. If Y beat me, I would question our relationship. In other words, in situations where I get hurt my love could be conditional.

Perhaps I have just been tainted by my past, but I think love is very conditional. We love people so long as they do not hurt us. We love people so long as they do not embarress us. We love people so long as they do not change. We love people conditionally.

Feel free to comment. I am intrigued by arguments on the topic of unconditional love.