I’ve come to realize that love alone isn’t enough, respect is what keeps it alive.

It’s not just about how deeply someone loves you, but how gently they speak to you, especially when things get hard.

When someone raises their tone, especially in public, it’s not just the words that hurt, it’s the feeling of being unseen and unprotected.

Sometimes I understand, it’s a man’s ego, the instinct to feel in control or prove a point. But raising your voice doesn’t show strength; it only reveals a lack of calm. True power isn’t in volume, it’s in composure, in the ability to stay gentle even when emotions run high.

I don’t need someone who always agrees with me, but I do need someone who listens. Someone who can disagree without disrespect, and who understands that communication is meant to connect, not to wound.

The most beautiful kind of love is the one that protects you in front of others but corrects you in private. It’s love that pauses before reacting, speaks with care even in anger, and values understanding more than being right.

Because in the end, respect is love in action.

It’s how we show our heart without breaking someone else’s.

**To anyone reading this, never settle for love that makes you feel small.

The right person won’t just say they love you; they’ll show it in how they speak to you, how they listen, and how they make you feel safe to be fully yourself.

~ Reendiana