Most of us are raised to believe we will either find love in our first family (our family of origin), or, if not there, in the second family we are expected to form through committed romantic couplings, particularly those that lead to marriage and/or lifetime bondings. Many of us learn as children that friendship should never be seen as just as important as family ties. However, friendship is the place in which a great majority of us have our first glimpse of redemptive love and caring community. Learning to love in friendships empowers us in ways that enable us to bring this love to other interactions with family or with romantic bonds.
bell hooks, all about love (via lizpelly)