There is a desire to be loved that is the core of our very nature from birth.  All people from all cultures desire this 'SPECIAL LOVE" from the earliest stages of life.  No child dreams of being abused but craves recognition, acceptance, and encouragement.  It matters not if the child needs lots of time being held or likes to play alone.  They all look for love and acceptance.

As children grow older, they often find themselves in various forms of trouble by chasing that need to be loved and accepted.  Very frequently they find themselves in trouble, time and again, as they have very little, if any, guidance as to how to find that special love.  Others will often simply have their spirit broken enough times that they become very hardened and accept  the realization that this kind of love does not exist, at least not for them.  Some find it only to have it taken away brutally and quickly. 

Some grow up actually having a background that encourages them. They hang on to the dream long enough to find real love, at least to a larger, more fulfilling degree.

No matter what your story is, it is your story, reflecting your spirit and your future.  It is the history you were handed by those with authority during your youth or by the choices you made as you got older. 

I encourage you to not give up on love and life.  Many of us have had a long battle growing out of the messes we found ourselves in.  In some way, I relate to where you are along the path of chasing a relationship where you can know you are loved just as you are, baggage and all. 

I compare much of our growth process as similar to training horses.  The training process must not break the animal's spirit, for that spirit is a gift from God.