Have you ever been in love with someone you hardly knew? Oh, sure, you might tell yourself that you know them. You might have the kind of fine and lovely imagination that projects all sorts of fine and lovely qualities and personality traits upon that person. You might also be an unusually perceptive individual, the kind that observes the emotional landscape of someone you care deeply about, so as to form uncannily accurate conclusions about their characteristics and internal goings-on. But neither one of those is remotely the same thing as being granted access to the heart of someone you love. Because in order for that to happen, you will require their conscious and open-hearted consent. And sadly, there are quite a few people on this planet who guard the keys to their heart like their very survival depended on no one ever getting in. Sure, they may slide their heart’s blackout curtains open for just a moment here and there, long enough for you to catch a glimpse of all the beauty and love that lies within. But as long as they keep snapping those curtains shut again, you can be sure that their heart remains firmly off-limits to the likes of you — and likely, everyone else, too, But I have heard (though not personally confirmed) that there are people walking around this fine planet today who are far less guarded and restrictive about trusting those they love with the keys to their heart. Such people will let you know they are open-hearted, even if you have demonstrated yourself to be an imperfect human. And that is what feels all the more miraculous: the fact that you don’t have to be flawlessly loving, yourself, to be granted entry to their lovely heart-territory. For such people, the “key” is as simple as giving them your very own, imperfectly open-hearted demonstration of love. Imagine that! ❤️‍🔥—Y.B.D.