You have to love someone without fear. You have to trust in things you can’t always see. Sometimes you have to walk with a blindfold on. You won’t always know where you’re going. There’s never a guarantee.

When we love, there’s always the risk of a bruised heart. Egos take a few steps back. Loving someone requires belief in the unbelievable. It requires leaping without looking. It means being scared, but going for it anyway. It means knowing things might not work out, but giving it a shot.

You have to love someone without fear. You have to find the courage to open yourself up to another human being. You need to learn to be okay with vulnerability. Doesn’t mean it’s easy. Doesn’t mean the nerves won’t find you. But fear will hold you back from fully loving, and from being fully loved.

There’s an entire world waiting for you. There’s a universe that exists just for you and another person. Exploration means bravery. It means taking a dive. It means holding out your hands and hoping someone will grab onto them. Love means hoping someone is going to catch you. Love is thinking they will. Love is giving it a damn chance.

Maybe you’ll be hurt. Maybe they’ll be days when your walls are thicker than the desire to let someone in. I understand. Letting someone see you is frightening. Letting someone love you, love every single piece of you is daunting.

There’s a quote widely attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt that says, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

Let that thing be love.

You have to love someone without fear, even if it’s there in the beginning. It’s okay to be afraid, but don’t let that close you off. Don’t let fear dictate what you do, or who you love, or how you love.

The hardest things to do often become things we’re forever grateful for. Love is no exception.

Love someone without fear. Even if it’s the scariest thing you’ll ever do.