Touching Lives: Unconditional Love

Occasionally I will post on my Touching Lives series (read Part I and Part II) that I started a few years ago, where I initially stated that I try to make a difference in someone's life every day. Through my typical style, I will expand on that sentiment via art - in this case, an Alanis Morissette song, You Owe Me Nothing In Return, where she expresses the meaning of unconditional love.

I'll give you countless amounts of
Outright acceptance if you want it.
I will give you encouragement to choose
The path that you want if you need it.

You can speak of anger and doubts,
Your fears and freak-outs and I'll hold it.
You can share your so-called shame-filled accounts
Of times in your life and I won't judge it.

You can ask for space for yourself
And only yourself and I'll grant it.
You can ask for freedom as well
Or time to travel and you'll have it.

You can ask to live by yourself
Or love someone else and I'll support it.
You can ask for anything you want
Anything at all and I'll understand it.

And there are no strings attached to it.
You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give.
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have.
I give you thanks for receiving, it's my privilege,
And you owe me nothing in return.

I bet you're wonderin' when the next
payback shoe will eventually drop.
I bet you're wonderin' when my
conditional police will force you to cough up.
I bet you're wonderin' how far you now
have danced your way back into debt.

This is the only kind of love,
As I understand it, that there really is.

You can express your deepest of truths
Even if it means I'll lose you and I'll hear it.
You can fall into the abyss on the way to your bliss
And I'll empathize with you.

You can say that you'll have to skip town
To chase your passion and I'll hear it.
You can even hit rock bottom
And have a mid-life crisis and I'll hold it.

You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give.
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have.
I give you thanks for receiving, it's my privilege,
And you owe me nothing in return.

This song perfectly captures the essence of selfless giving and unconditional love. If we could find a way to incorporate this into our everyday lives - with our lovers, friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers - the world would be a better place.