Why does love hurt?

Are there people for whom love doesn't hurt?

Does thick skin or total and complete self-assurance make it hurt less or not-at-all? (We all know I am not possessed of either of those traits.)

Probably the most important lesson I learned in my thirties is that you cannot set the priorities for anyone but yourself. I guess that would have to go hand-in-hand with not having the right to criticize decisions other people make that they deem to be in their best interest.

I know I'm talking through a lot of clouds here, but I'm hurting today for a decision, a choice, that Mr. Match made last night. It's not directly about me, and it comes at a time of great stress in his life, so I'm trying to give him some latitude here. I can choose to make his decision a deal-breaker. Or not. I choose not. I may decide later on that I made a mistake, but for now I'm just going to sit on my thumbs and wait patiently to see what happens next.

I hate this part of life. I hate the uncertainty and the testing. I want to find Him, whoever He is, and start living.